CASE REPORTS   

Minerva Pediatrica 2009 February;61(1):123-7

Copyright © 2009 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Syringocele in children: an unusual presentation as scrotal mass

Marte A., Prezioso M., Sabatino M. D., Borrelli M., Romano M., Del Balzo B., Nino F., Parmeggiani P.

Chirurgia Pediatrica Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli Napoli, Italia

Syringocele is a cystic dilation of the excretory bulbourethral Cowper gland duct, and is a rather uncommon finding in pediatric age. It is frequently asymptomatic but sometimes may cause voiding symptoms and urinary tract infection (UTI). This case report describes an unusual manifestation of syringocele presenting with hydrocele. The case concerns a 2-year-old boy who was referred to our Clinic with a diagnosis of hydrocele. The patient underwent hydrocelectomy through a bilateral inguinal incision, but no clear communication with the patent peritoneal vaginal ducts could be demonstrated. The histology evidenced an epidermoid cyst. One year later the scrotal mass relapsed. Sonography, voiding cistography (VCG), computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed. VCG, CT scan and MRI demonstrated the communication between the urethra and the scrotal mass. A surgical excision of the syringocele with endoscopic resection of the collar were performed. Syringocele is a rare entity in pediatrics. To this authors’ knowledge there are no reports in the literature describing cases presenting with scrotal mass.