Epididymal cyst
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| Epididymal cyst | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Epidydymal cyst (benign tumor) | |
| Specialty | Urology |
| Symptoms | Scrotal mass and pain.[1] |
| Diagnostic method | Ultrasound.[2] |
Epididymal cyst is a harmless sac in the testicles filled with fluid.[2] The most frequent clinical presentation occurs when a routine physical examination yields an unexpected finding, which is then confirmed by scrotal ultrasonography.[1] Although the exact cause of epididymal cysts is unknown, it is likely a congenital anomaly associated with hormonal imbalances during the embryonic stage of development.[3]
Causes
The exact cause of an epididymal cyst is unknown, but it is most likely a congenital anomaly associated with hormonal imbalances during embryonic life.[3] Previous research has shown a correlation between the development of epididymal cysts and maternal exposure to endocrine-disrupting substances like diethylstilbestrol during male fetal development.[4][5] It has been determined that the causes of epididymal cysts in children are vasal or epididymal obstruction and environmental endocrine disruptors.[6][7] There has also been a suggestion that the testicular dysgenesis syndrome may include an epididymal cyst.[8]
Diagnosis
An ultrasound is used to confirm 20–30% of epididymal cysts that are found during a physical examination.[2]