CASE REPORT
Polyorchidism: radiological features and therapeutic management of a rare congenital anomaly
 
More details
Hide details
1
Student Scientific Society, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
 
2
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Traumatology and Urology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
 
3
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
 
 
Submission date: 2025-10-22
 
 
Final revision date: 2026-01-17
 
 
Acceptance date: 2026-01-18
 
 
Publication date: 2026-10-08
 
 
Corresponding author
Iwona Anderko   

Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Student Scientific Society
 
 
Pediatr Pol 2026;101(3):297-301
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Polyorchidism, or the presence of supernumerary testes, is a rare congenital anomaly of the genitourinary system. Most cases are asymptomatic and incidentally discovered during imaging or surgery for unrelated conditions. The anomaly is associated with an increased risk of torsion, inguinal hernia, cryptorchidism, and, rarely, malignancy. Accurate diagnosis requires careful evaluation of anatomical and functional characteristics using high-resolution ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and histopathological assessment when indicated. Management should be individualized, balancing fertility preservation with malignancy risk, and may involve either conservative monitoring or surgical intervention. Psychological and ethical considerations are important, particularly for young patients, highlighting the need for multidisciplinary care involving uro- logists, pediatric surgeons, pediatricians, and psychiatrists. We present a rare case of left-sided triorchidism in a 17-year-old male, emphasizing the diagnostic challenges and the importance of an integrated, patient- centered approach in both medical and psychosocial aspects of care.
REFERENCES (21)
1.
Rafailidis V, Jones J, Sharma R, Silverstone L, Elfeky M, Murphy A, et al. Polyorchidism. Reference article. Radiopaedia.org. Available from: https://radiopaedia.org/articl... (accessed: 25.08.2025).
 
2.
Kanbar A, Dabal C, El Khoury J, Halabi R, Assaf S, Mina A, et al. Diagnosis and management of polyorchidism: a case report and literature review. Case Rep Urol 2023: 1620276.
 
3.
Kheirandish P, Chinegwundoh F. An unusual case of triorchidism. JRSM Short Rep 2010; 1: 55.
 
4.
Önal O, Caylan AE, Uçar M. Rare clinical case: polyorchidism. Anatolian J General Med Res 2025; 35: 90-92.
 
5.
Balawender K, Wawrzyniak A, Kobos J, Golberg M, Żytkowski A, Zarzecki M, et al. Polyorchidism: an up-to-date systematic review. J Clin Med 2023; 12: 649.
 
6.
Abduljabbar AH. A case report: triorchidism; is a rare mistaken cause for extra testicular neoplasm. Urology Case Rep 2015; 3: 89-91.
 
7.
Bergholz R, Wenke K. Polyorchidism: a meta-analysis. J Urol 2009; 182: 2422-2427.
 
8.
Bergholz R, Koch B, Spieker T, Lohse K. Polyorchidism: a case report and classification. J Pediatr Surg 2007; 42: 1933-1935.
 
9.
Balawender K, Wiatr T, Wawrzyniak A, Orkisz S. Management of incidental finding of triorchidism diagnosed during routine hernia repair. Res Rep Urol 2021; 13: 127-131.
 
10.
Nurfajri DH, Pranoto D, Pramod SV, Safriadi F, Hernowo BS. Polyorchidism and testicular malignancy, what can we learn: a case report. Urol Case Rep 2021; 39: 101828.
 
11.
Chintamani J, Nyapathy V, Chauhan A, Krishnamurthy U. Supernumerary testis. J Radiol Case Rep 2009; 3: 29-32.
 
12.
Yalçınkaya S, Sahin C, Sahin AF. Polyorchidism: sonographic and magnetic resonance imaging findings. Canadian Uroll Assoc J 2011; 5: E84-E86.
 
13.
Dirie AM, Elmi AM, Mutlu E, Osman FAO, Mohamed AH. Sonographically diagnosed and conservatively managed case of polyorchidism: a case report. Radiol Case Rep 2022; 17: 2714-2716.
 
14.
Rafailidis V, Arvaniti M, Rafailidis D, Sfoungaris D. Multiparametric ultrasound findings in a patient with polyorchidism. Ultrasound (Leeds, England) 2017; 25: 177-181.
 
15.
Bayraktar A, Olcucuoglu E, Sahin I, Bayraktar Y, Tastemur S, Sirin E. Management of polyorchidism: surgery or conservative management? J Human Rep Sci 2010; 3: 162-163.
 
16.
Hayat AM, Masood M, Chaudhry S, Ahmed A, Rasheed R, Nizam M, et al. Tri-orchidism: a rare case report. Radiol Case Rep 2025; 20: 2738-2741.
 
17.
Artul S, Habib G. Polyorchidism: two case reports and a review of the literature. J Med Case Rep 2014; 8: 464.
 
18.
Simons CM, Wald M. Nonfunctional supernumerary testis in a 26-year-old man with orchalgia. Sci World J 2006; 6: 2471-2473.
 
19.
Aldughiman AW, El-Tholoth HS, Alsunbul A, Badawy E, Alelaiwai A. Management of polyorchidism in a prepubertal boy: a case report and literature review. Urol Ann 2020; 12: 385-387.
 
20.
Tang J, Liu Q, Zhao Z, Lu H. Two cases of polyorchidism: case report and literature review. Front Pediatr 2025; 13: 1563191.
 
21.
Pomara G, Cuttano MG, Romano G, Bertozzi MA, Catuogno C, Selli C. Surgical management of polyorchidism in a patient with fertility problems. J Androl 2003; 24: 497-498.
 
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top