Introduction

A hydrocele is a fluid-filled sac that can occur from inflammation or injury. This fluid-filled sac will form around the
testicle, causing the scrotum to swell. Men, usually older than 40, have been known to develop hydroceles. Hydroceles are commonly known to occur on infants, as about 1 of every 10 male infants have it at birth. Most of these hydroceles are known to disappear during the infants first year.

Hydroceles don’t have to be painful, but it has also been known to be very uncomfortable. They are not exactly
harmful, and may not need any treatment. If you have other symptoms such as, Scrotal swelling, please see your
doctor to make sure there are no other causes such as testicular cancer or other serious conditions.

Signs & Symptoms

Usually the only sign of a hydrocele is swelling of a testicle. It may be larger then the other or feel as if it is not a
normal shape. It can be very painful or not at all.

Causes

In men, Hydroceles have been known to occur as a result of injury or inflammation within the scrotum. Inflammation
may result during infection of the small coiled tube at the back of each testicle (epididymitis) or of the testicle.
For babies, the hydrocele may develop within the womb. At about the eighth month of gestation, the testicles drop
from the baby’s abdomin into the scrotum. A sac (Processus Vaginalis) comes with both testicles, allowing fluid to
surround them. What is supposed to happen next is, the sac closes and the fluid is absorbed. If the fluid does not
absorb after the sac closes, that is known as a noncommunicating hydrocele. Since the sac has closed, the fluid
cannot flow back into the baby’s abdomen. The fluid usually absorbs within a year.

In some cases the sac stays open. With this condition (noncommunicating hydrocele) the sac may change size or
the fluid could flow back into the abdomen.

When to seek treatment

It is important to see your physician as soon as possible. To rule out other possibilities. Sometimes hydroceles are
mistaken with abdominal hurneas that can drop intestine down into the scrotum. This is very important to have fixed.

Treatment

Here are a few options you have:

• Surgery (hydrocelectomy) can be performed on an outpatient basis. The surgeon can do general or spinal anesthesia. The surgeon may make an incision in the scrotum or lower abdomen to remove the hydrocele.
• Needle aspiration can be done by draining the hydrocele. When this treatment is done, It has been known to reoccur, and by doing this procedure repeatedly, scar tissue will begin to develop.

Filed under: Health by admin Date 28 May, 2007