Approximately 1% of males are diagnosed with cryptorchidism [1]. In the majority of cases the undescended testicle is palpable. However, as many as 20% of cryptorchid patients will have a non-palpable testis [2]. In these cases, the testis might be absent, intra-abdominal, or within the inguinal canal (canalicular). Prior to the advent of laparoscopic exploration for the non-palpable testicle in 1976, management of the undescended testicle consisted of an inguinal exploration with extension into the peritoneum [3]. The testicle was either absent (vanishing), removed, positioned scrotally, or in the worst case scenario, not located by the surgeon.
