Scrotal Mass



Scrotal Mass


Sara M. O’Hara, MD, FAAP



DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS


Common



  • Inguinal-Scrotal Hernia


  • Epididymoorchitis


  • Hydrocele


  • Varicocele


  • Testicular Torsion


  • Torsion of Testicular Appendage


  • Testicular Rupture/Hematoma


Less Common



  • Spermatocele/Epididymal Cyst


  • Pyocele


  • Tubular Ectasia


  • Testicular Tumors


Rare but Important



  • Meconium Peritonitis


  • Scrotal Pneumatosis


  • Henoch-Schönlein Purpura


ESSENTIAL INFORMATION


Key Differential Diagnosis Issues



  • Begin by determining structural origin of scrotal mass



    • Testicle


    • Epididymis


    • Tunica, surrounding testicle


    • Spermatic cord


    • Fat and connective tissues


  • Next, determine if mass is



    • Soft tissue


    • Cystic or fluid


    • Vascular


    • Peristalsing


    • Or mixture of these


  • Finally, confirm normal blood flow in testicle



    • Testicular ischemia can be complication of many scrotal masses


Helpful Clues for Common Diagnoses



  • Inguinal-Scrotal Hernia



    • Typically heterogeneous, mixed soft tissue mass


    • Look for hernia neck pointing to inguinal canal or frank communication with peritoneal cavity


    • Peristalsis may be diminished/absent when incarcerated


    • Testicle is usually displaced to bottom of scrotal sac


  • Epididymoorchitis



    • Enlarged, hypoechoic epididymis


    • May show increased echoes if there is hemorrhage


    • Marked hyperemia on Doppler


    • Associated hydrocele common


  • Hydrocele



    • Fluid within tunica


    • Surrounds testicle


    • Should not displace or compress testicle


    • Debris present with infection or trauma


    • Very common in baby boys


  • Varicocele



    • Dilated veins of pampiniform plexus


    • Left side > > right


    • Idiopathic type: Due to incompetent valves in internal spermatic vein


    • Secondary type: Due to increased pressure on draining veins


    • Most common correctable cause of male infertility


    • Varicoceles increase in size during Valsalva


  • Testicular Torsion



    • Twisting of testis and spermatic cord in scrotum


    • Spontaneous or traumatic


    • Results in ischemia/venous congestion


    • Surgical emergency


    • Testicular salvage rate drops with symptom duration


    • Doppler hypoperfusion is key to diagnosis


    • Always compare to asymptomatic side


    • Spontaneous detorsion, may appear hyperemic


  • Torsion of Testicular Appendage



    • Twisting of testicular or epididymal remnant


    • Hypoechoic mass adjacent to testis OR


    • Hyperechoic mass between testis and epididymis


    • Absent Doppler flow in mass with surrounding hyperemia


    • Associated hydrocele common


    • Typically less painful than testicular torsion


  • Testicular Rupture/Hematoma



    • Variable appearance depending on severity and acuity



    • Hematoma initially appears as echogenic avascular mass


    • Subsequently liquifies and contracts


    • Search testicular capsule for any breaks


    • Confirm testicular perfusion


    • Ruptured testicle is surgical emergency



      • Salvage rate drops with symptom duration


    • Extratesticular hematoma treated nonsurgically


Helpful Clues for Less Common Diagnoses



  • Spermatocele/Epididymal Cyst



    • Both result from dilated epididymal tubule


    • Spermatoceles



      • Contain spermatozoa and sediment


      • Most often in epididymal head


    • Epididymal cysts



      • Contain clear serous fluid


      • Found anywhere in epididymis


  • Pyocele



    • Infected collection



      • May be complication of prior trauma, surgery, bacteremia


    • Loculations and debris characteristic


  • Tubular Ectasia



    • Dilation of rete testis


    • Variably sized cysts or tubules


    • Radiate from mediastinum testis


    • No flow on Doppler


  • Testicular Tumors



    • Only 1-2% of all pediatric tumors


    • Bimodal age peaks



      • < 2 years old and young adults


    • Germ cell variety (60-77%)



      • Teratomas: Benign in pediatric patients (malignant in adults)


      • Yolk sac tumors: Elevated α-fetoprotein


      • Mixed: Variable behavior


    • Seminomas: Rare in children


    • Sertoli cell and Leydig cell tumors



      • Hormonally active: Gynecomastia, precocious puberty


    • Juvenile granulosa cell tumors



      • 27% of all neonatal testicular tumors, benign


    • Gonadoblastoma: Intersex disorders


    • Leukemia/lymphoma secondary involvement, bilateral


    • Cystic dysplasia: Benign, associated ipsilateral renal agenesis/dysplasia


    • Extratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma



      • Highly aggressive malignancy


      • 70% retroperitoneal nodal spread at diagnosis


Helpful Clues for Rare Diagnoses



  • Meconium Peritonitis



    • Extension into scrotum from peritoneum


    • Calcification common


  • Scrotal Pneumatosis



    • Extension from peritoneum or perineum


    • Benign or infectious varieties


  • Henoch-Schönlein Purpura



    • Marked swelling and hyperemia of peritesticular soft tissues


    • Usually bilateral


    • Testicles are normal






Image Gallery









Longitudinal ultrasound with extended field of view shows bowel and fat extending through the inguinal canal into the scrotum in this child with scrotal fullness. The testicle image is displaced inferiorly.






Transverse ultrasound shows the tubular appendix (calipers) extending into the right scrotal sac surrounded by fluid in this 2-month-old boy with scrotal swelling and pain.

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Aug 10, 2016 | Posted by in PEDIATRICS | Comments Off on Scrotal Mass

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