Common and Uncommon Presentation of Fluid within the Scrotal Spaces

Comparison of Percutaneous Internal Ring Suturing (PIRS) versus Open Ligation of the Patent Processus Vaginalis for the Treatment of Communicating Pediatric Hydrocele

BACKGROUND

Although the laparoscopic approach become standard for the treatment of many surgical conditions many studies still debating whether laparoscopic surgery has significant advantages over open surgery in regards to hernia or hydrocele treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of treatment of treatment of communicating hydrocele in pediatric patients between laparoscopic percutaneous internal ring suturing (PIRS) and open ligation of the patent processus vaginalis (PPV).

METHODS

The medical records of pediatric patients who underwent surgery for communicating hydrocele between 1 January 2019 and 1 January 2024 were retrospectively reviewed. The primary objective of the study is to investigate the outcomes of treatment (complications and recurrence rates) of communicating hydrocele in children between laparoscopic and open surgical approaches. Secondary outcomes of the study are the duration of surgery and anesthesia, length of hospital stay (LOS), frequency of hospital readmissions (ReAd) and unplanned return to the operating room (uROR).

RESULTS

A total of 198 children underwent surgery for a communicating hydrocele (205 repairs, as 7 cases were bilateral) and were included in the study. Of these, 87 children underwent a PIRS, while the remaining 111 cases underwent open ligation of the PPV. No recurrence of the hydrocele was observed in any of the study groups. Intraoperative complication (epigastric vein injury) was noted in two cases in both groups (2.3% vs. 1.8%, p > 0.999). A slightly higher number of postoperative complications was observed in the open group (n = 7, 6.3%) compared to the PIRS group (n = 2, 2.3%) (p = 0.190). The median duration of surgery (15 min (IQR 10, 17) vs. 21 min (IQR 15, 25); p < 0.001) and anesthesia (30 min (IQR 25, 40) vs. 40 min (IQR 35, 40); p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the PIRS group compared to open ligation of the PPV. In addition, a significantly shorter median of LOS was observed in the PIRS group compared to the open PPV group (9 h (IQR 8, 12) vs. 24 h (IQR 12, 24; p < 0.001). No cases of ReAd and uROR were observed in any of the study groups.

CONCLUSIONS

PIRS is a safe and effective laparoscopic technique that can be used in the treatment of communicating hydrocele in children. PIRS showed excellent outcomes and a low incidence of complications and recurrences, comparable to traditional open surgery.

Encysted Hydrocele of Spermatic Cord in Adult: A Rare Case Report

Hydrocele represents a commonly encountered pathological condition characterized by the development of scrotal swelling. In contrast, spermatic cord hydrocele is a relatively rare condition that arises from the abnormal closure of the processus vaginalis. This condition entails the accumulation of fluid within the spermatic cord, and although hydrocele itself is a frequently observed ailment affecting roughly 100 out of 100,000 men, encysted hydrocele of the spermatic cord is a seldom-seen variant. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that spermatic cord hydrocele tends to be more prevalent in the pediatric population compared to adults. In our clinical practice, a patient presented with swelling localized to the right hemi-scrotum and was initially diagnosed as suffering from a chronic right-sided hydrocele of the tunica vaginalis. However, during the surgical intervention, the true nature of the condition became evident, as it was determined to be an encysted hydrocele of the cord. This case report chronicles the diagnostic journey surrounding hydrocele, highlighting the distinction in surgical management between encysted hydrocele and vaginal hydrocele of the testis.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound in peritoneal dialysis: when and how to perform it

In the field of peritoneal dialysis contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a new add-on examination to B-mode ultrasound, but until recently it has never been systematically studied. Based on the experience of the Project Group "Integrated Imaging and Interventional Nephrology" of the Italian Society of Nephrology, CEUS is helpful for evaluating catheter malfunction, peritoneal-pleural communication, leakage, and herniation, and in particular it facilitates dynamic functional imaging of the catheter and its complications. The use of CEUS in peritoneal dialysis is simple, repeatable, safe, radiation-free, and appears to be less time-consuming and more cost-effective than other radiological imaging techniques such as peritoneography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance or peritoneal scintigraphy.

Imaging of Peritoneal Dialysis Complications in Children

Worldwide, peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the preferred renal replacement therapy option for children with end-stage renal disease who are awaiting transplantation. PD involves the instillation of a specifically formulated solution into the peritoneal cavity via a PD catheter, with two-way exchange of solutes and waste products along a concentration gradient. This exchange occurs across the peritoneal membrane. The PD catheter has intraperitoneal, abdominal wall, and external components. Enormous efforts have been directed to augment the efficiency and longevity of the peritoneum as a dialysis system by preventing PD-related infectious and noninfectious complications, which may otherwise result in technique failure and a subsequent temporary or permanent switch to hemodialysis. Imaging has an instrumental role in prompt diagnosis of PD complications and in guiding the management of these complications. The main imaging techniques used in the setting of PD complications-namely, conventional radiography, US, CT, MRI, and peritoneal scintigraphy-as well as the benefits and limitations of these modalities are reviewed. The authors also describe the frequently encountered radiologic findings of each complication. Familiarity with these features enables the radiologist to play a crucial role in early diagnosis of PD complications and aids the pediatric nephrologist in tailoring or discontinuing PD and transitioning to hemodialysis if necessary. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ^©RSNA, 2022.

Pearls and Pitfalls of Pediatric Scrotal Imaging

Ultrasonography (US) is the primary imaging modality for the evaluation of pediatric scrotal disease. The ability to obtain exceptional anatomical detail and testicular perfusion information without ionizing radiation makes it the essential tool for evaluating scrotal pain and palpable masses. Challenges arise in both the performance and interpretation of scrotal US in the child. Optimizing imaging parameters and recognizing key differentiating US features help minimize misinterpretations that can lead to poor patient outcomes. Key pearls and pitfalls in pediatric scrotal ultrasound methods and diagnoses are reviewed. Knowledge of what is normal for the various ages of childhood from neonate through adolescence is necessary for accurate US analysis. Imaging evaluation of key causes of the acute painful scrotum including testicular appendage torsion, epididymitis, and testicular torsion are discussed. Sonographic features for the diagnosis of benign and malignant scrotal masses, microlithiasis, and cryptorchidism are reviewed.

Ultrasonography of the scrotum: Revisiting a classic technique

Conventional US is the primary imaging modality for the evaluation of the scrotum, due to its high resolution, availability, cost-effectiveness and absence of ionizing radiation. Grayscale and color Doppler US provide a comprehensive assessment of scrotal diseases. The technique represents the mainstay for imaging of acute scrotum. US is highly accurate in the detection, localization and characterization of scrotal masses. Multiparametric US, including conventional US, contrast-enhanced US and tissue elastography has improved the diagnostic performance of the technique in the assessment of testicular diseases. MRI represents a valuable supplemental imaging tool for the investigation of scrotal pathology, mainly recommended in cases of indeterminate US findings. Recommendations recently issued by the European Society of Urogenital Radiology Scrotal and Penile Imaging Working Group (ESUR-SPIWG) refer to the use of scrotal sonography for the evaluation of pathologic entities, including testicular microlithiasis, small, non-palpable incidentally detected testicular masses, varicocele and scrotal trauma. In this review, the technical specifications for scrotal US and the normal sonographic findings are presented. Grayscale and color Doppler US findings of common acute scrotal diseases and scrotal masses are discussed. The complimentary role of multiparametric US and scrotal MRI is addressed. ESUR-SPIWG's guidelines are also reviewed.

The role of scrotal ultrasonography from infancy to puberty

Background

Scrotal ultrasonography is an essential diagnostic tool in daily clinical practice. The availability of new‐generation ultrasound machines characterized by clearly improved image quality, low health cost, and higher patient safety, represents only some characteristics of ultrasound investigation. The usefulness of scrotal ultrasonography is particularly evident in the period of life from infancy to puberty, during which males undergo important morphofunctional changes, and several pathological conditions may occur.

Objectives

This pictorial review primarily aimed to investigate the aspects of ultrasonography related to the normal physiological development of the gonads from mini‐puberty to pubertal onset. This study also aimed to provide an update on the use of ultrasonography in main andrological pathologies that may occur during this period. The conditions that are discussed in depth are: cryptorchidism, inguinoscrotal hernias, and hydrocele in the neonatal phase; acute scrotum, epididymo‐orchitis, and testicular cancers in childhood; and hypogonadism, varicoceles, testicular microlithiasis, and oncohematological pathology in puberty.

Discussion

We provided an ultrasound slant for all the above‐mentioned pathologies while purposely avoiding excessive deepening of the pathogenetic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects. Studying the ultrasound aspects of the gonads also facilitates differential diagnosis between various conditions and represents a good aid in evaluating therapeutic success (e.g., in hypogonadism or postsurgical evaluation of varicoceles and cryptorchidism).

Conclusion

Scrotal ultrasonography is now globally recognized as the necessary completion of clinical–laboratory overview in gonads evaluation. This diagnostic procedure is even more indispensable in the infancy–childhood–puberty period for the evaluation of normal gonadal development as well as diagnosis of other possible diseases.

Persistence of the processus vaginalis and its related disorders

The processus vaginalis is a blind-ended evagination of the abdominal wall that develops during fetal life and typically undergoes obliteration in early life. Persistence of the processus vaginalis is associated with a number of pathologies including congenital indirect inguinal hernias, communicating hydroceles, funicular and encysted hydroceles, canal of Nuck cysts, and acquired undescended testis. Whilst all are detectable sonographically, there is little educational material relevant to the field of ultrasound with much of the literature directed at surgical and primary care physicians. Furthermore, within the literature there is a lack of consensus on several areas including the anatomy and embryology of the processus vaginalis and the mechanisms behind its obliteration. As such the objective of this paper is to distil the information regarding the persistent processus vaginalis as it is relevant to ultrasound and in doing so address the literature gap for sonographers and sonologists. The anatomy and embryology of the persistent processus vaginalis will be discussed including causative mechanisms for anomalies with their sonographic appearance highlighted.

[Testicular tumors: A diagnostic challenge of imaging]

OBJECTIVES

Reviewing the characterization and the follow-up imaging of testicular tumors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Literature review (PubMed, Medline) of urological and radiological studies dealing with testicular tumors using keywords: Testicular tumors; Color Doppler ultrasound; US elastography; Magnetic resonance imaging; Contrast enhanced sonography.

RESULTS

Ultrasound remains the basic exam for the tumor characterization. Among the other techniques, MRI, elastography, contrast enhanced ultrasound, although still in evaluation, will be increasingly used in the future. The frequency of benign Leydig cell tumors justifies a testicular preservation approach, through improvement of characterization, monitoring or tumorectomy. The follow-up of testicular lesions must be indicated on precise indications: follow-up of the contralateral testicle in the case of germi cell tumor, follow-up by of a supposed benign lesion, such as a small Leydig cell tumor in an infertile patient, follow-up when ultra-sound findings are not sufficiently worrying to require immediate diagnosis but which include pejorative criteria. The tumor markers and the extension screening remain systematic.

CONCLUSION

The era of total orchiectomy for any uncertain testicular lesion is over. We try the challenge of characterization, and define management's algorithms based on clinical biological data and suspected nature of the tumor at imaging.

Scrotal Ultrasound

Ultrasound is the imaging modality of choice to evaluate the scrotum because of its high resolution, Doppler capabilities, availability, and lack of ionizing radiation. Acute urologic emergencies diagnosed with ultrasound include testicular torsion, testicular rupture, and Fournier gangrene. The radiologist's knowledge of sonographic features of vascular, infectious, traumatic, and benign and malignant processes that occur in the scrotum coupled with the patient's presenting symptoms, age, and physical examination allows for the correct diagnosis of a wide spectrum of scrotal pathology.