Page 21 - SONO 260 Chapter 13 The Male Pelvis

PATHOLOGY OF THE SCROTUM HYDROCELE
• A FEW MILLIMETERS OF EXTRATESTICULAR FLUID IS A NORMAL SONOGRAPHIC FINDING.
• SCROTAL ENLARGEMENT THAT IS THOUGHT TO BE CAUSED BY FLUID CAN BE CONSIDERED CLINICALLY, BECAUSE FLUID WITHIN THE SCROTUM WILL TRANSILLUMINATE LIGHT.
• A SIMPLE FLUID COLLECTION WITHIN THE SCROTUM IS REFERRED TO AS A HYDROCELE.
• HYDROCELES ARE FOUND BETWEEN THE TWO LAYERS OF THE TUNICA VAGINALIS AND OFTEN DISPLACE THE TESTICLES POSTERIORLY.
• THEY CAN BE IDIOPATHIC OR DESCRIBED AS REACTIVE HYDROCELES WHEN FOUND IN THE PRESENCE OF SCROTAL INFECTIONS, TESTICULAR TORSION, TRAUMA, OR TUMORS.
• HYDROCELES ARE OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY SCROTAL WALL THICKENING. Copyright © 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins