Hydrocele is a collection of clear fluid around one or both of a male’s testicles that causes swelling in the scrotum. It is not painful or harmful but the swelling may cause discomfort for older males. There are approximately 10 in 100 babies who have hydrocele present at birth that normally resolve on their own within a year. Hydroceles are more common in premature babies but can develop at any age with young boys. With older men, hydrocele can occur due to trauma, infection, or testicular torsion.
There are two types of hydroceles; communicating and non-communicating. A communicating hydrocele occurs when the opening between the abdominal cavity and scrotum does not close properly and completely during fetal development. This allows peritoneal …show more content…
These can be present at birth or develop as boys get older and typically resolve on their own within the first year of life. This type of hydrocele can also be caused my trauma to the scrotum, pervious surgery in the groin area, an infection such as orchitis or epididymitis, or testicular torsion. Swelling may cause discomfort and the scrotum may feel heavy. If the underlying cause is due to an injury or an infection it will cause painful swelling, redness, and tenderness.
The diagnosis of hydrocele starts with a physical examination of the testicles. The physician will check for tenderness in the enlarged scrotum. Apply pressure to the abdomen to observe if there is a change in the scrotum size. Performing an ultrasound of the testicles will help determine if there is an inguinal hernia present. Transillumination1 of the testicles is performed for a visual examination. A blood or urine test will also be performed to rule out any infections that could be occurring in within the testes that cannot be