Lecture 11: Scrotal and Penile Disorders Flashcards
What is a hydrocele?
Accumulation of fluid around the testis.
What is the MCC PAINLESS scrotal swelling in pediatrics?
Hydrocele
What are the 3 noncommunicating hydroceles?
- Testicular
- Inguinoscrotal
- Cord
What connection makes a hydrocele communicating?
Processus vaginalis
Usually only present in newborns.
What are the usual S/S of a hydrocele?
- Little to no pain
- Fluid-filled mass ANTERIOR to testis
- +/- scrotal fullness or heaviness
What does a hydrocele look like on PE?
Like a little lightbulb on your penis
Transilluminates
What imaging should we order if we suspect torsion related to a hydrocele?
Doppler US
When do we treat a hydrocele?
If it lasts > 12months, communicating, or symptomatic.
What is the treatment for a hydrocele?
- Needle aspiration
- Definitive tx: Hydrocelectomy
Describe a variocele.
Dilated, engorged, tortuous veins within the pampiniform plexus of scrotal veins.
MC on the LEFT SIDE
What is the most surgically correctable cause of male infertility?
Variocele
What might an unilateral R variocele suggest in terms of underlying etiology?
IVC obstruction.
What are the S/S of a variocele?
- Scrotal enlargement or heaviness
- +/- dull aching pain
- Infertility
- Asymptomatic is possible too.
Can also be painless like a hydrocele.
What does a variocele feel like on PE?
Bag of worms that may improve with supine.
What is the primary imaging test that can confirm dx of a variocele?
Doppler US
What is the conservative approach to variocele treatment? Surgical tx?
- Conservative: Scrotal support and NSAIDs
- Surgical: only for severe s/s or fertility.
What are the surgical tx options for a variocele?
- Embolization of spermatic vein
- Injected ablation of spermatic vein
- Surgical ligation of pampiniform plexus
What is a testicular torsion?
Twist in the spermatic cord causing compromised testicular blood supply.
EMERGENCY!
What age group are testicular torsion MC in?
12-18 yr old
65%
What are the risk factors for testicular torsion?
- Trauma
- Vigorous exercise or sex
- Cryptorchidism
- Bell-clapper deformity
What are the symptoms of testicular torsion?
- Sudden onset of severe, unilateral scrotal pain/swelling
- +/- lower abd pain, N/V
- +/- hx of intermittent symptoms
- NO VOIDING SYMPTOMS
What is the classic presentation of testicular torsion?
- High-riding testis
- Slightly larger than unaffected testis
- Transverse lie in scrotum
What is Prehn’s sign?
Pain does not relieve with scrotal support
Negative Prehn’s sign
Seen in testicular torsion.
Negative prehn’s => torsion
Positive prehn’s => epididymitis
What is the cremasteric reflex?
Stroke/pinching skin or upper thigh should cause ipsilateral rise of testis.
Lack of this reflex suggests torsion.
What is the test of choice for testicular torsion?
Doppler US
What is the alternative to doppler US for testicular torsion?
Radionuclide scintigraphy
What is the purpose of UA in testicular torsion?
R/o infection
How do we treat testicular torsion?
Detorsion and fixation of testes
Either manual or surgical.
How is manual detorsion done?
Medial-to-lateral primarily.
Opening a book motion.
How quickly must surgical detorsion be performed?
6 hrs!
If > 12 hrs, you might lose your balls
What are the 5 criteria for the TWIST scoring system?
- Testicular swelling - 2
- Hard testicle - 2
- Absent cremasteric reflex - 1
- N/V - 1
- High-riding - 1
5+ high risk, 3-4 medium: do doppler US.
What is the most likely testicular appendage to be twisted?
Appendix testes
Also MC in younger patients!
What are the 4 possible testicular appendages that can undergo torsion?
- Appendix testis
- Appendix epididymis
- Paradidymis
- Vas aberrans
How does testicular appendage torsion present?
- Similar to testicular torsion but less severe.
- Blue dot sign
- Normal blood flow
What is the treatment for testicular appendage torsion?
Conservative
What is phimosis and the MCC?
- Contracted foreskin that can’t retract.
- MCC: chronic infection from poor hygiene.