Signs and symptoms of hydrocele

Answer 1

Symptoms of HydroceleMen who appear at a physician's office for the evaluation of a scrotal mass are frequently asymptomatic. It is not unusual to elicit an incidental history of scrotal or perineal trauma, which has prompted self-examination and discovery of the mass. The history of frequency, urgency, and dysuria associated with bacteriuria and of painful scrotal swelling suggests an inflammatory cause. There may also be pain in the groin or testicle.

An accurate diagnosis can usually be made solely on the basis of physical findings. A complete examination of the scrotum - consisting of inspection, palpation, and transillumination - is made in every case.

The presence of erythema and edema with loss of the normal scrotal rugae is suggestive of an inflammatory lesion (i.e., epididymitis or epididymo-orchitis.) In the presence of acute epididymitis, the epididymis is exquisitely tender to palpation and, in the absence of orchitis, easily separated from the normal testicle. Pain is aggravated by standing and should be relieved when the testicle is elevated (Prehn's sign).

A smooth, cystic feeling mass completely surrounding the testicle and not involving the spermatic cord is characteristic of a hydrocele. A cystic, non-tender mass arising from the head of the epididymis and distinct from the testicle is characteristic of a spermatocele.