Cryptorchidism in Siblings

The incidence of cryptorchidism is known to be increased in certain genetically transmitted disorders including cystic fibrosis, Eagle-Barrett syndrome, oculo-cerebro-renal syndrome of Lowe, and in some not so well-recognized syndromes. On the other hand, nondescent of an otherwise normal testis is rarely recorded as an isolated familial or hereditary finding. Corbus, in 1922, described a family of six brothers, all of whom had unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism. Perrett et al. reported three brothers with right sided cryptorchidism and a fourth normal sib. He was able to trace the trait through four generations in that family and concluded that inheritance was by dominant gene with limited penetrance.