Disorders of the scrotum and testes Flashcards
What is cryptorchidism? Related to what?
- undescended testes or absent testes (agenesis)
- occurs when 1 or both testicles fail to move down into the scrotal sac
- bilateral 10-20% of cases
- incidence is directly related to birth wt and gestational age:
1/3 of premature mailes
cause in full term infants poorly understood
3-5% of full term infants are born w/ undescended testicles:
most cases idiopathic
some may be genetic or hormonal
Pathology of cryptorchidism?
- testes develop intra-abdominally in fetus and usually descend into the scrotum through the inguinal canal during the 7th to 9th month of gestation
- undescended testicles remain in the lower abdomen or at a pt of descent into inguinal canal
- the scrotal sac is empty
- the testis either isn’t palpable or can be felt external to inguinal ring
- spontaneous descent often occurs during 1st 3 months of life
- by age 6 mo, incidence decreases to 0.8%
- spontaneous descent rarely occurs after 6mo
What pathological changes to undescended testicle can be demonstrated at 6-12 months?
- delay in germ cell development
- changes in spermatic tubules
- reduced number of leydig cells
- when the disorder is unilateral, it also may produce morphologic changes in contralateral descended testicle
Consequences of cryptorchidism?
- infertility:
increases if disorder is bilateral
decreased sperm counts
poorer quality sperm - malignancy: risk is increased (can’t examine testes)
- indirect inguinal hernias
- increased incidence of testicular torsion
Exam and dx of cryptorchidism?
- careful exam of genitalia in male infants
- diff b/t undescended testes from retractable testes:
retract into inguinal canal w/ cremasteric muscle reflex - are usually palpable by birth, careful palpation in warm room can bring them down
- usually assume a scrotal position during puberty
dx:
US occasionally
laparoscopy for dx and tx if not palpable
Tx goals of cryptorchidism and tx?
- enhance future fertility potential
- placement of gonad in favorable place for cancer detection
- improved cosmetic appearance
- orchiopexy should be considered after 6 mos of life, as rate of descent diminishes considerably after this pt:
surgical placement and fixation of testes in scrotum, 95% of orchiopexy pts will be fertile - hormone therapy w/ hCG or LHRH no longer considered useful in helping testes descend
F/U after tx of cryptorchidism?
- lifelong f/u:
infertility issues
testicular cancer issues - upon reaching puberty, instruct boys in necessity of testicular self exam, should be done monthly
What is a hydrocele? Due to what?
- excess fluid collects b/t the layers of tunica vaginalis usually peritoneal fluid due to weakness in the patent processus vaginalis
- can be unilateral or bilateral
- due to primary congenital defect or secondary condition
- palpated as cystic mass, can become quite large, mass can be mistaken for solid tumor
Primary congenital hydrocele - seen in? Tx indicated?
- male infants and kids
- assoc w/ indirect inguinal hernia
- infant hydroceles usually close spontaneously
- if persists beyond 2 yrs of age, surgical tx is indicated
Secondary causes of hydroceles?
- trauma
- epididymitis
- testicular torsion
- orchitis
- infection
- testicular cancer
- appendiceal torsion
Dx of hydrocele?
- transillumination:
shining light through scrotum for purposed of visualizing its internal structures - US:
determination of underlying conditions if not in neonate, eval if can’t transilluminate
What should be considered if hydrocele develops in young man w/o apparent cause?
- it should be considered cancer until proven otherwise
- careful eval is needed to exclude cancer or infection
Presentation of hydrocele in adult male?
- relatively benign condition
- is often asx
- feeling of heaviness in scrotum
- pain in lower back
Tx of hydrocele?
primary causes:
if it’s painful or cosmetically undesirable, surgical correction if indicated, can be done inguinally or transcrotally
- secondary causes:
tx condition causing hydrocele, if it is benign and communicating w/ peritoneal cavity then surgery is necessary to close defect
What is a hematocele? Etiologies?
- accum of blood in tunica vaginalis
- can compromise testicle
- causes scrotal skin to become dark red or purple
- etiologies:
abdominal surgical procedure
scrotal trauma
bleeding disorder
testicular tumor
Characteristics of a spermatocele?
- painless, sperm-containing cyst that forms on the epididymis
- located above and posterior to testicles
- attached to the epididymis
- separate from the testes
- may be solitary or multiple
- usually greater than 2 cm
- freely moveable and should transilluminate
- rarely cause problems
- if large, may become painful and reqr excision