Testicular Biopsy and Testicular Mass Removal
Hydroceles
- Accumulation of fluid inside the scrotum and around the testicle(s)
- Most common form of scrotal masses
- Generally soft and painless
- Causes: none, inflammation, infection, trauma, tumor
- Diagnosis: physical examination, light test, ultrasound
- Treatment: usually not necessary if small and painless. Surgical testicle removal if large or painful
Hydroceles
Spermatocele
- Most common retention cysts in the scrotum
- Cysts of the spermatic cord filled with fluid and sperm
- Size varies from some millimeters to centimeters
- Can be soft or hard, painless or associated with discomfort
- Harmless
- Treatment: None, if small and painless. Surgery may be required, if large and painful.
Procedure
Care is taken to keep the lesion intact while it is dissected free of its attachments to the spermatic cord. This may involve mobilization of the testis. The lesion is removed by cutting all of its attachments. The tissues damaged during the dissection are repaired and closed by suturing. If the testis has been mobilized, it is anchored to the inside of the scrotum with three sutures to prevent later torsion or twisting. A drain may be placed in the scrotum and the incision is closed in layers by suturing.
Varicocele
- Enlargement of the veins draining the testicles
- Uni- or bilateral; more common on the left side
- Usually not dangerous, but can result in infertility
- Diagnosis: physical examination, ultrasound
- Symptoms can vary from none, to feeling of “sack of worms” in the scrotum, dragging and pulling pain, feeling of heaviness, testicular atrophy (shrinkage of the testicle), low testosterone, or infertility
- Treatment: none, if no complaints or infertility, surgical removal, if large, painful, unsuccessful conception, and future plans for pregnancy
Epididymitis
An infection, acute or chronic, of the epididymis may warrant a surgical intervention if conservative drug therapy is of no help.
- Acute: usually accompanied by inflammation, infection, swelling and warmth of the scrotum
- Chronic: usually pain is the only symptom
- Pain can range from mild to severe, and may or not be associated with swelling and hardening of one or both epididymis
- Causes: none, urinary reflux, bacterial infection (most common: Chlamydia Gonococcus, E. Coli), and surgical interventions in the genital area
- Diagnosis: history and physical, doppler ultrasound, bacterial testing if infection is suspected
Procedure
Dr. Elist ligates the spermatic veins and/or excises a varicocele. An abdominal approach is performed by an incision made in the pubic area just medial to the bony prominence of the pelvic bone on the affected side and carried down through the abdominal musculature to the spermatic vein and artery. The cord is brought up into the incision and the structures of the cord are dissected, the veins identified, and ligated with suture material. Alternately, an incision is made in the scrotum and the dilated veins ligated separately may be removed. The operative incision is closed in layers by suturing. If an inguinal hernia is present at the same time, Dr. Elist repairs it by folding and suturing of tissues to strengthen the abdominal wall and correct the weakness responsible for to hernia. In very rare cases in Beverly Hills testicular mass removal may be necessary.
Inguinal Hernias
- Very common: lifetime risk for men is 27%, for women is 3%
- Hernia repair surgery is the most commonly performed surgical procedure
- Signs and symptoms: none to bulging in the groin area, rarely painful (pain indicates bowel strangulation and needs immediate surgical attention), the bulging disappears when lying down.
Testicular Cancer
- A lump in one testis which may or may not be painful
- Sharp pain or a dull ache in the lower abdomen or scrotum
- A feeling often described as “heaviness” in the scrotum
- Breast enlargement (gynecomastia) from hormonal effects of β-hCG
- Low back pain (lumbago) tumor spread to the lymph nodes along the back
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea), cough or coughing up blood (hemoptysis) from metastatic spread to the lungs
- A feeling often described as “heaviness” in the scrotum