Simple cyst of the rete testis

Tubular ectasia of the rete testis: an ultrasound diagnosis

Tubular ectasia of the rete testis is a rare benign entity that is often associated with some degree of obstruction at the epididymal level, either post-traumatic or postinfectious in nature. Its characteristic ultrasound findings have been well described in the radiologic literature. We report 6 cases of dilated rete testis diagnosed by ultrasound at our hospital over a 2-year period. Recognition of tubular ectasia by ultrasound, in the appropriate clinical setting, may eliminate unnecessary testicular biopsy or orchiectomy.

Spermatozoa-containing simple cysts of the rete testis

Simple cysts of the testis are rare benign lesions of uncertain etiology. We report 2 spermatozoa-containing cysts of the rete testis found incidentally in the left testicle of a 56-year-old man evaluated by ultrasound for hydrocele. The presence of spermatozoa in the cyst fluid has not been observed previously and confirms the connection of the cysts with the seminiferous tubular system.