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Testicular Cyst
Definition and Pathology of Testicular Cysts
The following criteria apply for a simple testicular cyst (Bonkat et al., 2007):
- It is located within the testicular parenchyma and is distinguishable from the tunica albuginea.
- Clear, liquid cyst contents without spermatozoa.
- Cyst wall with flat or cuboidal epithelium without other elements of a teratoma.
- Normal testicular (residual) parenchyma without inflammation, fibrosis, or malignancy.
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Diagnosis
Testicular ultrasound imaging shows a round and anechoic cyst with dorsal acoustic enhancement and edge shadowing artifact. There is no blood flow within the cyst. The testicular (residual) parenchyma appears normal.
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Differential Diagnosis of Testicular Cysts:
- Benign cystic lesions: tubular ectasia of the rete testis, cystic testicular dysplasia, epidermoid cyst, dermoid cyst, cyst of the tunica albuginea, and spermatocele.
- Malignant cystic lesions: teratoma, germ cell tumors, carcinoma of the epididymis, and metastasis.
Treatment of Cysts of the Testis
Advise the patient to regular self-examinations. The intervals for clinical and sonographic controls depend on ultrasound findings and are necessary for growing or changing lesions. In doubtful cases, perform an inguinal surgical approach to the testis and enucleate the cyst.
| Male infertility | Index | Tubular ectasia of the rete testis |
Index: 1–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
References
Bonkat, G.; Ruszat, R.; Forster, T.; Wyler, S.; Dogra,
V. S. & Bachmann, A.
[Benign space-occupying cysts in the testis.
An overview]
Urologe A, 2007, 46, 1697-1703
Deutsche Version: Diagnose und Therapie einer Hodenzyste