Fine needle aspiration cytology of epididymal nodules

Ultrasound-Based Technologies for the Evaluation of Testicles in the Dog: Keystones and Breakthroughs

Ultrasonography is a valuable diagnostic tool extensively used in the andrology of human and domestic animals, including dogs. This review aims to provide an overview of various technologies based on ultrasound, from the basic B-Mode ultrasonography to the more recent advancements, such as contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and ultrasound elastography (UEl), all of which are utilized in the evaluation of canine testicles. The review outlines the principles behind each of these technologies and discusses their application in assessing normal and abnormal testicular conditions. B-mode canine testicular ultrasonography primarily focuses on detecting focal lesions but has limitations in terms of objectivity. Other technologies, including Doppler ultrasonography, B-Flow, and CEUS, allow for the characterization of vascular patterns, which could be further measured using specific applications like spectral Doppler or quantitative CEUS. Additionally, ultrasound elastography enables the assessment of parenchyma stiffness both qualitatively and quantitatively. These ultrasound-based technologies play a crucial role in andrology by providing valuable information for evaluating testicular function and integrity, aiding in the identification of pathological conditions that may impact the health and quality of life of male dogs.

Xanthogranulomatous epididymo-orchitis: A single-institutional case series and systematic review

Introduction

Xanthogranulomatous inflammation is a rare nonneoplastic and chronic inflammatory process, characterized by proliferation of foamy macrophages resulting in damage and necrosis of the affected tissue. Involvement of the testis/epididymis by the disease is a rare event.

Methods

A case series of four male patients diagnosed with xanthogranulomatous epididymitis/orchitis (XGEO) at our institute was reviewed. In addition, a systematic review of XGEO was carried out using PRISMA Guidelines 2020. Twenty-nine articles describing 38 patients of XGEO were included in the study.

Results

XGEO usually has a subacute or chronic presentation and affects male individuals in the 5th or 6th decades of life. The disease is also known to occur in the pediatric age group. The patients present with swelling, tenderness, or pain in the scrotal region. Bilateral involvement has also been documented. Thirty patients were known to have one or more causal risk factors including diabetes mellitus (23.7%), spinal cord injury/neuropathic bladder (7.9%), prostatectomy (7.9%), trauma (4.1%), and transurethral resection of prostate procedure (4.1%). Complications observed were scrotal fistula, adhesions, and abscess formation. Radiological features reported are nonspecific and include heterogeneous echotexture, hypoechoic areas, and/or scrotal wall collections. Bacterial microorganisms isolated from the affected tissue demonstrated the presence of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Histological subtypes of XGEO are diffuse and focal. In the diffuse subtype, which is more common, there is extensive parenchymal destruction by inflammatory process accompanied by widespread ischemic necrosis.

Conclusion

The mainstay of treatment in XGEO cases is surgical excision preferably orchidectomy. Conservative management has been attempted in young individuals and in patients with focal XGEO, but there is limited supporting evidence. We present data of four cases along with detailed systematic review of the disease examining its clinicopathological behavior and associated risk factors followed by operative approach.

A Review of the Diagnostic Use of Fine-needle Aspiration Cytology for Tuberculosis Epididymo-orchitis: To Do or Not to Do

Isolated tuberculous epididymo-orchitis is a rare manifestation of the vast extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) disease spectrum, especially in developed nations, making it prone to delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis and inadvertent orchiectomy. Several observational studies and case reports have been reported with the successful use of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in diagnosing tuberculosis orchitis, thus avoiding inadvertent orchiectomy. Because tuberculous epididymo-orchitis can mimic testicular neoplasm, the use of FNAC is not prevalent in developed countries for fear of the seeding of tumor cells and there is a lack of consensus on the use of FNAC for diagnostic purposes in such patients. We report a case of a 27-year-old man with an atypical presentation of genitourinary tuberculosis (TB) and its management. The case report also reviews the literature to discuss the available evidence and tries to answer the long-standing question on the role of FNAC in the diagnosis of tuberculous epididymo-orchitis. The currently available literature has demonstrated the safety and efficacy of FNAC in diagnosing TB epididymo-orchitis and, based on our review, the benefits of differentiating TB epididymo-orchitis from testicular malignancy using FNAC exceeds its minimal risk and must be considered to minimize clinical diagnosis error and unnecessary orchiectomy in low-risk patients.

Clinical, radiological, cytological, and microbiological assessment of painful extratesticular lesions

Introduction:

Most of the painful extratesticular scrotal lesions are erroneously diagnosed and treated in our clinical practice. Therefore, this study was undertaken to analyze the usefulness of a combination of clinical, radiological, cytological, and microbiological assessment in establishing the accurate diagnosis of this lesion.

Aim:

To study the Clinical, Radiological, Cytological and Microbiological assessment of painful extra-testicular lesions and their correlation with each other in establishing the accurate diagnosis of these lesions.

Objectives:

The objectives of the study were to assess the diagnostic significance of clinical, radiological, cytological, and microbiological methods and their correlation in establishing the accurate diagnosis of painful extratesticular lesions.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional study was carried out in Departments of Surgery, Radiology, Pathology, and Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital over the period of 2 years. During this period, we were able to accommodate 75 patients in the study, who presented with pain and swelling in the scrotum and clinically found to have extratesticular swellings. Radiological assessment was done on the 1^st day of visit, using Grayscale ultrasonography along with Color Doppler of these lesions. For cytological assessment, ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology and microbiological assessment were done from the aspirate remaining after making cytology slide.

Statistical Analysis:

Data analysis was done using SPSS statistical software. Kappa statistics were used to find the degree of agreement or concordance between clinical, radiological, cytological, and microbiological findings.

Results:

Clinically 71 patients were found to have tender extratesticular swellings, whereas in four patients, these swellings were nontender on clinical examination. Radiologically, epididymitis was found in 32 patients. Only in 37 patients out of 75, a definite diagnosis could be made on cytology. The microbiological examination did not give any positive results.

Conclusion:

Painful extratesticular scrotal lesion often poses a diagnostic dilemma in the mind of treating physician. Clinical findings of these lesions may be corroborated through radiological, cytological, and microbiological assessment in an endeavor to arrive at a definitive diagnosis with a defined etiology.

Cytomorphological spectrum of epididymal nodules: An institution's experience

Background:

Epididymal lesions are uncommon in clinical practice. Few case series has been described in the literature documenting the role of cytology in the evaluation of epididymal nodules. This study was undertaken to analyze the cytomorphology of epididymal nodules and to evaluate role of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in early definitive diagnosis of epididymal nodules.

Materials and Methods:

A total of seventy cases of epididymal nodules were aspirated over a period of 6 years in the Department of Pathology. These cases were taken from the cytology record as a part of this study. The aspiration was performed using 22/23-gauge needle. Smears were stained with May-Grunwald-Giemsa and Papanicolaou stains. Special stains and immunocytochemistry were performed, wherever required.

Results:

The cytological features were adequate to establish the diagnosis in sixty cases. The lesions diagnosed were tuberculosis 16 (22.85%), spermatoceles 12 (17.14%), benign cystic lesion 8 (11.42%), encysted hydrocele 8 (11.42%), acute suppurative lesion 6 (8.57%), filariasis 4 (5.71%), chronic epididymitis 3 (4.28%), nodular fasciitis 1 (1.42%), epidermal inclusion cyst 1 (1.42%), and cystic adenomatoid tumor 1 (1.42%). Ten cases were inadequate to establish the diagnosis. FNAB was useful in diagnosis of 86% of cases. Infectious lesions of the epididymis were more common than neoplastic lesions. Patients with infection responded well to medical treatment.

Conclusions:

FNAB is an easily available technique for palpable lesions of epididymis, and it helps in making an early, near definitive diagnosis of epididymal lesions. It also helps to avoid unnecessary surgical interventions and helps in timely management.

Granulomatous epididymo-orchitis: diagnosis by fine needle aspiration

Tuberculosis is the leading cause of chronic granulomatous epididymo-orchitis in the Asian population. A retrospective analysis of 40 patients diagnosed with granulomatous or tubercular epididymo-orchitis on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) was carried out. May Grünwald giemsa, haematoxylin and eosin and Ziehl Neelsen stained smears were evaluated. Of 40 patients studied, aspiration smears showed epithelioid cell granulomas with caseation in 17, granulomas alone in 19 and caseation only in four. Acid fast bacilli were seen in 15. Cytologic diagnoses rendered were tubercular epididymo-orchitis in 15, granulomatous inflammation suggestive of tuberculosis in six and granulomatous inflammation in 19. FNA may readily diagnose tubercular epididymo-orchitis and may avoid unnecessary orchidectomy in a good number of patients.

Clinico-radiological and pathological evaluation of extra testicular scrotal lesions

Background:

Scrotal ultrasound, though reliable in distinguishing between intratesticular and extratesticular lesions and characterizing them as cystic and solid, cannot distinguish benign from malignant pathology. Although fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has proved to be of great diagnostic importance in testicular lesions, its scope in extratesticular lesions is largely unexplored.

Aim:

To evaluate extratesticular scrotal lesions cytologically and compare it with their clinical, radiological, and histological findings.

Materials and Methods:

Sixty five patients with extratesticular scrotal lesions were assessed clinically, radiologically, and cytologically. Histopathology was done in 45 cases where surgical exploration was undertaken. All the data were then analyzed and correlated.

Results:

Extratesticular lesions accounted for 72.2% of the scrotal swellings. Of these, the epididymis is most commonly involved (61.5% cases) with the commonest type of lesion being cystic (49.3% cases). Ultrasonography preferably with color doppler is highly useful for the evaluation of the scrotum. Apart from distinguishing extratesticular from testicular and cystic from solid lesions, it has an important role in identifying individual lesions, thus reducing the list of differential diagnosis. Fine needle aspiration cytology contributed to a definitive diagnosis in 47.7% cases. It helps classify cystic masses on the basis of their contents and defines the etiology of chronic inflammatory lesions, apart from corroborating with the clinico-radiological diagnosis. Histological evaluation was possible only in cases where surgery was performed and helps further define the diagnosis.

Conclusion:

Fine needle aspiration cytology is essentially non-traumatic and easy to carry out and should be a technique of choice for the study of scrotal pathology, main advantage being avoidance of delays in diagnosis.