Testicular epidermoid cysts in children: sonographic characteristics with pathological correlation

Abstract

Background: Testicular epidermoid cyst is a rare benign tumor in children. Although this entity is widely described in adults in literature, there are no large series describing the pathological and radiological findings in children. Knowledge of the sonographic features seen in children may alter surgical treatment.

Objective: To describe the specific US characteristics of testicular epidermoid cyst in children and to correlate these findings with pathology.

Materials and methods: All children with pathologically proven epidermoid cyst and preoperative sonograms diagnosed at a single children's hospital between 1978 and 2008 were included. For each child, the medical records, preoperative US and pathological specimens were reviewed and correlated.

Results: Eleven patients (ages 1-17 years old) met our criteria. Nine cysts had characteristic target or onion ring appearances, the youngest patient had a simple cyst-like lesion, one cyst had a heterogeneous appearance, and more than 80% of the cysts presented daughter cysts attached along the periphery of the main cyst.

Conclusion: In addition to the commonly described findings of the epidermoid cyst (the target and onion ring appearances), simple cysts and the presence of daughter lesions are newly described findings that point to the diagnosis of this benign entity in children.