Hydrocoele

Question 1

Define Hydrocoele?

Answer 1

The excessive collection of serous fluid within the tunica vaginalis

Question 2

What is the aetiology of Hydrocoeles?

Answer 2

Congenital 
Idiopathic
Tumour 
Infection
Trauma 
Underlying testicular torsion 
Testicular appendage

Question 3

What risk factors do we do for Hydrocoeles?

Answer 3

Indirect inguinal hernias in children
Epididymo-orchitis
Filariasis (in countries of high prevalence)

Question 4

What is the epidemiology of Hydrocoeles?

Answer 4

Very common in children in the first year of life

Common in older men

Question 5

What are the presenting symptoms of Hydrocoeles?

Answer 5

Scrotal swelling
Usually asymptomatic
Patients may complain of pain or urinary symptoms due to the underlying cause

Question 6

What are the signs of Hydrocoeles?

Answer 6

Scrotal swelling
It is possible to get above the swelling
Transilluminates
Difficult to separate the swelling from the testicle

Question 7

Why do we do an US for Hydrocoeles?

Answer 7

Exclude tumour

Question 8

Why do we do Urine for Hydrocoeles?

Answer 8

Dipstick and MSU for infection

Question 9

What do we look for in bloods for Hydrocoeles?

Answer 9

Markers of testicular tumours:

• a-fetoprotein
• B-HCG
• Lactate dehydrogenase