Scrotum and Testicles Flashcards
What should always be evaluated if an intratesticular mass is seen?
The retroperitoneum! Conversely, if retroperitoneal adenopathy is seen in a reproductive-age male, the testicles should always be examined.
Most scrotal masses are __________ relative to normal testicular parechyma.
Hypoechoic
On Doppler, most scrotal masses will have _________ vascularity with ____ diastolic flow, producing a _____ resistence waveform.
- Increased vascularity
- high diastolic flow
- low resistance waveform
What is the most common testicular malignancy?
Prognosis? Epidemiology?
What marker may be elevated, albeit uncommonly?
US appearance?
Name the subtype.
- Seminoma is the most common testicular malignancy.
- It has a favorable prognosis.
- Seminoma typically occurs in middle-aged men.
- Uncommonly, hCG may be elevated.
- The spermatocytic subtype of seminoma occurs in slightly older men (mid 50s) and has an excellent prognosis with orchiectomy only. Tumor markers are not elevated.

What are the nonseminomatous germ cell tumors?
- Embryonal CA
- Teratoma
- Yolk sac (endodermal sinus) tumor
- ChorioCA
- Mixed germ cell tumor
Way to remember: Think of all the tissus that comprise a viable pregnancy: Embryo (also a terror! ~ teratoma) - [and these first two most commonly make up the mixed germ cell tumor], yolk sac, and placenta (chorioCA)
What is the most common Nonsemitomatous germ cell tumor?
Mixed germ cell tumor
What are the most common components of a mixed NSGCT?
Talk about each one.
- Embryonal CA
- Comprised of immature, primitive cells. Forms a hemorrhagic mass with necrosis, and in its pure form is rare. In adults it is typically seen as a component of mixed germ cell tumors. (infantile form is the yolk sac tumor)
- Chemotherapy may result in differentiation into another type of germ cell tumor (eg teratoma)
- Teratoma
- Rare in its pure form in adults, but is seen in 50% of mixed NSGCT. Teratoma is classified as mature, immature, and malignant. In adults, teratomas are usually malignant. In children, teratomas are usually benign, with the mature subtype most commonly seen. AFP or b-hCG may be elevated.
What is the most common testicular tumor of infancy?
What marker is characteristically elevated?
- Yolk sack tumor
- AFP is elevated
What is the US appearance of nonseminomatous (NSGCT) germ cell tumors?
NSGCT epidemiology? Local invasion into what structures is common?
- A heterogeneous testicular mass that contains solid and cystic components and coarse calcification is a typical appearance for an NSGCT. It is not possible to distinguish the various subtypes of NSGCT on sonography.
- NSGCT generally occur in younger patients compared to seminomas, typically in young men in their 20s and 30s. NSGCT tend to be more aggressive than seminomas. Local invasion into the tunica albuginea and visceral metastases are common.
What is the most aggressive testicular tumor?
It is a malignant tumor of what cells lines?
Where doe in like to metastasize to via what route?
What marker is characteristically elevated? What may result?
- Choriocarcinoma
- Malignant tumor cells of syncytio- and cytotrophoblasts
- Spreads early hematogenously to brain and lung and mets tend to be hemorrhagic
- bHCG is elevated (a-subunit of hCG is similar to that of FSH, LH and TSH)
- Therefore, may lead to hyperthyroidism or gynocomastia
What is a burnt-out germ cell tumor?
Characteristic US appearance?
Treatment?
- Burnt-out germ cell tumor is a primary testicular neoplasm that is no longer viable in the testicle even though there is often viable metastatic disease, especially retroperitoneal.
- In the testicle, focal calcification with shadowing is characteristic. A mass may or may not be present.
- Treatment is orchiectomy in addition to systemic chemotherapy.
What is the name for multiple punctate testicular calcifications?
What is considered the limited form?
What characteristic appearance may be seen on US?
- Microlithiasis
- At least five microcalcifications must be present per image to be called microlithiasis. If there are fewer than five microcalcifications the term limited microlithiasis is used.
- Microlithiasis can produce a starry sky appearance if calcifications are numerous.
- In the liver, hepatitis can cause a starry sky appearance due to increased echogenicity of the portal triads.
What is the most common metastases to the testis and why?
Present in what age group and which side?
Possible US appearance?
- The most common metastases to the testicles are leukemia and lymphoma
- Usually of diffuse large B-cell type
- The relevant chemotherapeutic agents do not cross the blood-testis barrier.
- Hematologic malignancies typically present in older patients (most common cause of testicular mass in males > 60yo) and tend to be bilateral.
- May be infiltrative with diffuse testicular enlargement.
What is an epidermoid tumor and how does it appear on testicular US?
Management?
- An epidermoid is a keratin-filled cyst with a distinctive onion-ring appearance of concentric alternating rings of hypo- and hyperechogenicity.
- If suspected, local excision is performed instead of the standard orchiectomy typically performed for presumed malignant masses.
What are the benign testicular tumor mimics?
-
Congenital adrenal rests are embryologic remnants of adrenal tissue trapped within the testis. These are typically seen in newborns with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
- Adrenal rests appear as bilateral hypoechoic masses and classically enlarge with ACTH exposure.
- Polyorchidism/supernumerary testis: An extra testicle has an identical imaging appearance to the normal testicular parenchyma.
- Extranumerary testes carry a slightly increased risk of torsion and testicular cancNexter.
Talk to me about sarcoidosis of the testis!
Involvement? US appearance?
- Sarcoidosis may involve either the testis, the epididymis, or both. Scrotal involvement is rare but presents clinically as painless scrotal enlargement.
- The ultrasound appearance of testicular sarcoid is indistinguishable from a solid malignant mass. If sarcoidosis is suggested by clinical history, the testicular mass must be biopsied to exclude malignancy. Without tissue pathology, a mass cannot be assumed to be sarcoid.
What is the most common extratesticular neoplasm overall?
What is the most common epididymal neoplasm?
- Spermatic cord lipoma is the most common extratesticular neoplasm overall.
- Benign adenomatoid tumor of the tunica albuginea is the most common epididymal neoplasm.
What is a testiclar hydrocele and its cuauses? What about a hematocele?
- A hydrocele is an excess of fluid in the scrotum surrounding the testicle. most are asymptomatic. d
- A hydrocele may be congenital (due to patent processus vaginalis in utero or infancy), idiopathic, or post-inflammatory.
- Regardless of etiology, there is never fluid at the bare arrea where the testicle is attached to the tunica vaginalis.
- Hematocele is blood in the scrotum due to trauma or torsion.
What is a varicocele? What can it cause?
- A varicocele is a dilated venous pampiniform plexus in the scrotum. A primary varicocele is due to incompetent valves of the internal spermatic vein. A secondary varicocele is due to increased venous pressure caused by an obstructing lesion.
- Varicocele is a common cause of infertility, seen in up to 40% of males presenting to an infertility clinic.
US appearance of a varicocele
- On ultrasound, varicoceles appear as multiple tubular and serpentine anechoic structures >2 mm in diameter in the region of the upper pole of the testis and epididymal head. The varicoceles follow the spermatic cord into the inguinal canal and can be compressed by the transducer. Careful optimization of Doppler parameters shows the slow venous flow within the varicocele.
Which side or varicoceles more common and why?
A _____-sided vacicocele is associated with what neoplasm?
An isolated right-sided varicoele should prompt what?
- Varicoceles are much more common on the left as the left testicular vein drains into the left renal vein and the superior mesenteric artery can compress the left renal vein.
- Left-sided varicocele is Associated with left-sided RCC because it RCC often invades renal vv.
- In contrast, the right testicular vein drains directly into the infrarenal IVC.
- 85% of varicoceles are left-sided and 15% are bilateral. An isolated right-sided varicocele should prompt a search for a right-sided retroperitoneal mass.
What is an epididymal cyst?
What about a spermatocele and its common location and classic US appearance?
- An epididymal cyst is an anechoic fluid-containing cyst that can occur anywhere in the epididymis.
- A spermatocele is cystic dilation of the epididymis filled with spermatozoa, usually occurring in the epididymal head. Classic ultrasound appearance is an epididymal cyst with internal low-level mobile echoes.
- A simple epididymal cyst and a spermatocele cannot always be reliably distinguished by ultrasound.
What is tubular ectasia of the rete testis? Cause? Accompanied with?
More common in what population and which side?
US appearance? Confirmatory test?
Treatment?
- Tubular ectasia of the rete testis is nonpalpable, asymptomatic, cystic dilation of the tubules at the mediastinum testes caused by epididymal obstruction.
- Tubular ectasia is often accompanied by an epididymal cyst or spermatocele.
- Tubular ectasia of the rete testis is common in older patients and may be bilateral.
- Imaging shows numerous tiny dilated structures in the region of the mediastinum testis and to confirm a sagittal US will show elongation of the cystic dilation.
- Important to be aware of only as a tumor mimic. Tubular ectasia is benign and no treatment is necessary.

What is a simple testicular cyst and what is the US appearance?
- A simple testicular cyst meets sonographic criteria for a simple cyst (smooth posterior wall, imperceptible wall thickness, completely anechoic, posterior through transmission).
