Hydrocoele

Question 1

DEFINE Hydrocoele

Answer 1

the excessive collection of serous fluid within the tunica vaginalis

Question 2

Tunica Vaginalis

Answer 2

Pouch of serous membrane that covers the testes

Question 3

Explain the aetiology factors of hydrocoeles

Answer 3

Congenital

Idiopathic

Tumour

Infection

Trauma

Underlying testicular torsion

Testicular appendage

Question 4

Testicular Torsion

Answer 4

Tissues around the testicle are not attached well, causing testes to twist around the spermatic chord
pain
swelling
emergency

Question 5

Risk Factors/Associations

Answer 5

Indirect inguinal hernias in children

Epididymo-orchitis

Filariasis (in countries of high prevalence)

Question 6

Summarise the epidemiology of hydrocoeles

Answer 6

VERY COMMON in CHILDREN in the first year of life

Common in older men

Question 7

Recognise the presenting symptoms of hydrocoeles

Answer 7

Scrotal swelling

Usually ASYMPTOMATIC

Patients may complain of pain or urinary symptoms due to the underlying cause

Question 8

Recognise the signs of hydrocoeles on physical examination

Answer 8

Scrotal swelling

It is possible to get above the swelling

Transilluminates

Difficult to separate the swelling from the testicle

Question 9

Identify appropriate investigations for hydrocoeles

Answer 9

Ultrasound - exclude tumour

Urine - dipstick and MSU for infection

Blood - markers of testicular tumours:

a-fetoprotein

b-HCG

Lactate dehydrogenase