Hydrocele

Last reviewed: 22 Aug 2023
Last updated: 10 Jun 2020

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • scrotal mass
  • transillumination
  • enlargement of scrotal mass following activity
  • variation in scrotal mass during the day
More key diagnostic factors

Risk factors

  • male sex
  • prematurity and low birth weight
  • infants <6 months of age
  • infants whose testes descend relatively late
  • increased intraperitoneal fluid or pressure
  • inflammation or injury within the scrotum
  • testicular cancer
  • connective tissue disorders
  • varicocelectomy
  • filariasis
  • maternal exposure to polybrominated biphenyl
More risk factors

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • clinical diagnosis
More 1st investigations to order

Investigations to consider

  • ultrasound
More investigations to consider

Treatment algorithm

ONGOING

children

adolescents

adults

Contributors

Authors

Barry A. Kogan, MD
Barry A. Kogan

Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics

Albany Medical College

Albany

NY

Disclosures

BAK has no competing interests.

Erim Erdem, MD
Erim Erdem

Professor of Urology

Mersin University School of Medicine

Department of Urology

Mersin

Turkey

Disclosures

EE declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Edmund Sabanegh, MD

Director

Center for Male Fertility

Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute

Cleveland

OH

Disclosures

ES declares that he has no competing interests.

Daniel H. Williams, IV, MD

Assistant Professor

Department of Urology

Head

Section of Male Infertility and Andrology

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Madison

WI

Disclosures

DHW declares that he has no competing interests.

Marcus Drake, MA, DM, FRCS (Urol)

Senior Lecturer in Urology

University of Bristol

Bristol

UK

Disclosures

MD declares that he has no competing interests.

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