Scrotal swelling is the inflammation of the scrotum caused by fluid accumulation around the testicle. It is more common in newborns and usually resolves without treatment. In adults, this fluid accumulation may be associated with a scrotal injury.
What is acute scrotal syndrome?
This is a clinical picture in which scrotal pain is associated with inflammation in the scrotum with an increase in volume (edema) and changes in its coloration (erythema).
Depending on the cause of the pain, the appropriate treatment is applied. The key to treatment is identifying the cause to determine if it results from testicular torsion, a tumor, or another condition. One such condition is hydrocele.
What is a hydrocele?
A hydrocele is a swelling of the scrotum caused by fluid accumulation around the testicle. It is more common in newborns and usually resolves without treatment. In adults, this fluid accumulation may be associated with an injury within the scrotum.
It is usually painless and often requires no treatment. Even so, diagnostic tests should be performed to rule out any possible malignant pathology.
The main symptom of a hydrocele is usually swelling in one or both testicles. In adults, this swelling, caused by fluid retention, can be uncomfortable due to the weight of the fluid itself. The causes of this fluid accumulation can include a scrotal injury, an infection, or a sexually transmitted infection.
If this fluid does not disappear over time and on its own, it can be extracted (hydrocelectomy), a simple extraction that can be done with general or local anesthesia.
Other testicular injuries
Examples of this type of injury include testicular rupture and torsion.
What is testicular torsion and how is it treated?
It is rare and occurs when the testicle twists on itself, for no apparent reason, and stops receiving blood. It can be caused by trauma or as a result of very intense physical activity. It usually occurs in young men between the ages of 12 and 18.
This torsion usually resolves within four to six hours of it occurring and the onset of pain. If more time passes, the patient may lose the testicle or experience permanent sperm impairment. Correction can be performed manually on an outpatient basis or surgically.
What is a testicular rupture and how is it repaired?
It is a trauma caused by a direct blow that crushes the penis against the pubic bone. This crushing causes bleeding within the scrotum, resulting in intense and severe pain, scrotal swelling, vomiting, and nausea. It can only be resolved with surgical intervention.
