TY - JOUR
T1 - Painless scrotal masses in the pediatric population
T2 - Prevalence and age distribution of different pathological conditions - A 10-year retrospective multicenter study
AU - Aragona, F.
AU - Pescatori, E.
AU - Talenti, E.
AU - Toma, P.
AU - Malena, S.
AU - Glazel, G. P.
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - Purpose: In the pediatric population a bread spectrum of intrascrotal pathology ranging from congenital to neoplastic lesions can present as a painless scrotal mass. The aim of our 10-year retrospective study was to review 71 pediatric cases of a painless scrotal mass to determine the overall and age specific prevalence of diseases manifesting as such masses. Materials and Methods: From 1980 to 1991, 71 patients 1 day to 16 years old with a painless scrotal mass underwent evaluation using 7.5 or 10 MHz. ultrasound probes with transverse and longitudinal sections. Results: The painless scrotal mass was testicular in 61 cases (86%, 28 neoplasms, 27 congenital malformations, and 6 posttraumatic/inflammatory lesions) and extratesticular in 10 (14%, 5 neoplasms, 2 hematoceles, 2 pachyvaginitis and 1 sebaceous cyst). Patient age distribution showed 2 peaks at 6 to 1-year and 13 to 14- year intervals. More than a third of the painless scrotal masses (24 cases) were found during the first year of life, predominantly congenital anomalies (in utero torsion) and neoplasia. A total of 45 patients (63%) underwent surgery (orchiectomy in 39 and conservative treatment in 6) and a pathognomonic echo pattern allowed nonsurgical treatment in 26 (37%). Conclusions: Testicular ultrasound proved to be highly reliable in differentiating intratesticular from extratesticular lesions but it demonstrated poor specificity because of extensive overlap between benign and malignant pathologies. Therefore, testicular ultrasound changed the management of a few select cases of a painless scrotal mass (epididymal cysts/spermatoceles and in utero torsion).
AB - Purpose: In the pediatric population a bread spectrum of intrascrotal pathology ranging from congenital to neoplastic lesions can present as a painless scrotal mass. The aim of our 10-year retrospective study was to review 71 pediatric cases of a painless scrotal mass to determine the overall and age specific prevalence of diseases manifesting as such masses. Materials and Methods: From 1980 to 1991, 71 patients 1 day to 16 years old with a painless scrotal mass underwent evaluation using 7.5 or 10 MHz. ultrasound probes with transverse and longitudinal sections. Results: The painless scrotal mass was testicular in 61 cases (86%, 28 neoplasms, 27 congenital malformations, and 6 posttraumatic/inflammatory lesions) and extratesticular in 10 (14%, 5 neoplasms, 2 hematoceles, 2 pachyvaginitis and 1 sebaceous cyst). Patient age distribution showed 2 peaks at 6 to 1-year and 13 to 14- year intervals. More than a third of the painless scrotal masses (24 cases) were found during the first year of life, predominantly congenital anomalies (in utero torsion) and neoplasia. A total of 45 patients (63%) underwent surgery (orchiectomy in 39 and conservative treatment in 6) and a pathognomonic echo pattern allowed nonsurgical treatment in 26 (37%). Conclusions: Testicular ultrasound proved to be highly reliable in differentiating intratesticular from extratesticular lesions but it demonstrated poor specificity because of extensive overlap between benign and malignant pathologies. Therefore, testicular ultrasound changed the management of a few select cases of a painless scrotal mass (epididymal cysts/spermatoceles and in utero torsion).
KW - abnormalities
KW - scrotum
KW - testicular neoplasms
KW - testis
KW - ultrasonography
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U2 - 10.1016/S0022-5347(01)66299-2
DO - 10.1016/S0022-5347(01)66299-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 8632603
AN - SCOPUS:0029880078
VL - 155
SP - 1424
EP - 1426
JO - Journal of Urology
JF - Journal of Urology
SN - 0022-5347
IS - 4
ER -