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. 2011 Dec;14(4):208-15.
doi: 10.1016/j.jus.2011.10.008. Epub 2011 Nov 4.

Cystic lesions and scrotal fluid collections in adults: Ultrasound findings

M Valentino  1 , M Bertolotto, M Ruggirello, P Pavlica, L Barozzi, C Rossi
Affiliations

Cystic lesions and scrotal fluid collections in adults: Ultrasound findings

M Valentino et al. J Ultrasound. 2011 Dec.

Abstract
in English, Italian

The widespread use of scrotal ultrasonography (US) has led to increased detection of testicular and extratesticular pathologies. Cystic or encapsulated fluid collections are relatively common benign lesions that usually present as palpable testicular lumps. Most cysts arise in the epidydimis, but all anatomical structures of the scrotum can be the site of their origin. US may suggest a specific diagnosis for a wide variety of intrascrotal cystic and fluid lesions and appropriately guide therapeutic options. US should be used as an adjunctive diagnostic modality after clinical evaluation of a scrotal lesion associated or not with the presence of a lump.

SommarioLa diffusione nella pratica clinica dell’ecografia ha determinato il riscontro sempre più frequente di lesioni delle struttura testicolari ed extratesticolari. Le cisti e le raccolte fluide incapsulate sono lesioni benigne di frequente osservazione e si manifestano come tumefazioni in genere non dolenti. La maggioranza delle cisti si localizza a livello dell’epididimo, ma tutte le strutture anatomiche dello scroto possono essere sede della loro origine. Gli ultrasuoni consentono in molti casi una diagnosi precisa e specifica, che non richiede ulteriori accertamenti diagnostici, ma solo una adeguata scelta terapeutica. L’ecografia deve essere impiegata come mezzo diagnostico che si aggiunge all’esplorazione clinica in tutti i casi in cui un processo espansivo viene palpato o meno.

Keywords: Abnormalities; Scrotum; Testis; Ultrasonography.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Cyst of the testis. Anechoic didymal mass (arrow).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cyst of the testis containing echoic material (arrow).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Cystic teratoma of the testis. Solid mass containing fluid collections (a); poor vascularization at color-Doppler US (b). (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Tubular ectasia of the rete testis. US image shows a series of small cysts occupying part of the didymus.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Intratesticular varicocele. Note the presence of multiple anechoic structures within the didymus (a); color Doppler US shows the presence of vascular signals (b). (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)
Figure 6
Figure 6
Albuginea cyst. Anechoic formation within the tunica albuginea.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Testicular abscess. Hypoechoic didymal mass with irregular margins (a). Color Doppler US shows peripheral hypervascularity and absence of signals within the lesion (b). (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)
Figure 8
Figure 8
Hematoma of the testis. Voluminous cystic mass with internal septa in the didymus. The patient was receiving anticoagulant therapy and had suffered a direct blow a few days before.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Cyst of the epididymis. Anechoic lesion of the head of the epididymis.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Tubular ectasia of the epididymis. Saccular dilatation of the epididymis with fine internal echoes.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Cyst of the epididymis. A small cystic mass adjacent to the head of the epididymis in a patient with hydrocele.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Spermatic cord cyst. Cystic mass located along the course of the spermatic cord.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Bladder hernia. Presence of an anechoic mass in the inguinal canal, with wall appearance.
Figure 14
Figure 14
Hydrocele. Fluid collection in the scrotal sac (I). The testis (T) appears normal but posteriorly displaced.
Figure 15
Figure 15
Chronic hydrocele. Fluid collection in the scrotum with internal septa.
Figure 16
Figure 16
Hematocele. Corpuscular fluid (E) with a more echoic component (*) in a patient with scrotal trauma (T = testis).
Figure 17
Figure 17
Pyocele. Scrotal fluid collection with internal echoes in a patient with acute epididymitis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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