[Benign space-occupying cysts in the testis. An overview]

The Application Value of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in Testicular Occupied Lesions

Objective

To discuss the clinical application value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in testicular occupied lesions.

Methods

Nine conventional-ultrasound-found testicular occupied lesions which underwent CEUS meantime were analyzed retrospectively. The CEUS perfusion pattern was compared with the surgical pathological result or follow-up findings.

Results

Among all the 9 testicular occupied lesions, there were 5 testicular malignant tumors, 1 testicular benign tumor, 1 testicular tuberculosis, and 2 testicular hematomas. CEUS diagnosed 6 testicular malignant tumors, 1 testicular benign tumor, and 2 testicular hematomas, and its diagnostic accuracy was about 88.9%.

Conclusion

CEUS has high clinical application value in the differential diagnoses of benign and malignant testicular occupied lesions.

Testicular epidermoid cysts: a reevaluation

Background

Testicular epidermoid cysts (TECs) are rare benign testicular neoplasms. As TECs are rarely associated with germ cell tumours (GCTs), the understanding of biological behaviour and clinical management of TEC is unresolved.

Methods

We retrospectively searched the files of patients treated for testicular neoplasms and germ cell cancer in the time from 2000 to 2017. Those with TEC were subjected to closer review looking to clinical and histological features, and to results from imaging with ultrasonography (US), contrast enhanced sonography (CEUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Results

Among 589 patients undergoing surgery for testicular tumour, nine simple TECs were identified (1.5, 95% confidence intervals 0.53–2.50%). Median age was 26 years. Imaging revealed sharply demarcated roundish lesions with avascular central areas. Eight patients underwent testis-sparing excision with no recurrence ensuing. One had orchiectomy because of large size of the mass. Histologically, TECs consisted of cornifying squamous cell epithelium and no accompanying germ cell neoplasia in situ. Two additional cases (0.3% of all) required orchiectomy because these TECs were associated with ipsilateral GCT.

Conclusions

TEC is usually a benign lesion that can safely be diagnosed with US, CEUS and MRI due to its roundish shape and its avascular centre. Histologically, this TEC corresponds to the prepubertal-type teratoma unrelated to germ cell neoplasia in situ of the 2016 WHO classification. The other subtype of TEC that is associated with invasive GCT represents a teratoma of postpubertal-type. From a clinical point of view it could be easier to differentiate between a “simple TEC” which is benign (prepubertal type) and a “complex TEC” which is malignant because of its association with invasive GCT.

[Scrotal ultrasound examinations in infants and toddlers]

BACKGROUND

Besides physical examination, ultrasonography is the most valuable diagnostic tool to assess the scrotum and testes in the case of an acute scrotum or scrotal pathology.

PROBLEMS

In infants and toddlers the examination can be challenging. Due to the limited patient compliance, the small testicular size (< 0.5 ml), and low blood flow velocity (< 3 cm/s), it can be difficult to achieve a proper flow curve when assessing blood flow.

CONCLUSION

The examiner's skills are as important as adequate equipment (i. e., linear ultrasound probe, 12-14 MHz) and optimal program settings (Doppler scale < 3 cm/s, gate 1 mm). However, if there is doubt, surgical exploration is unavoidable.