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Spermatocele

MedGen UID:
20857
•Concept ID:
C0037859
•
Disease or Syndrome
Synonym: Spermatoceles
SNOMED CT: Spermatic cyst (49263001); Spermatocele (49263001)
 
HPO: HP:0033808
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0006977

Definition

A cystic structure arising from the epididymis, rete testis or efferent ductuli. These structures are filled with spermatozoa containing fluid that may be milky. These cysts are usually outside the tunica vaginalis and, as with hydrocele, transluminate easily. [from HPO]

Conditions with this feature

Azoospermia, obstructive, with nephrolithiasis
MedGen UID:
1779119
•Concept ID:
C5542351
•
Disease or Syndrome
Obstructive azoospermia with nephrolithiasis (OAZON) is characterized by male infertility due to obstruction at the head of the epididymis, as well as hypercalciuria and kidney stones (Askari et al., 2019).
See: Condition Record
Azoospermia, obstructive, with nephrolithiasis

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Aspiration and Sclerotherapy: A Minimally Invasive Treatment for Hydroceles and Spermatoceles.
Brockman S, Roadman D, Bajic P, Levine LA
Urology 2022 Jun;164:273-277. Epub 2021 Dec 29 doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2021.12.009. PMID: 34968574
The treatment of obstructive azoospermia in male infertility--past, present, and future.
Takihara H
Urology 1998 May;51(5A Suppl):150-5. doi: 10.1016/s0090-4295(98)00089-2. PMID: 9610572
The injection treatment of hydroceles and spermatoceles.
RHIND JA
Br Med J 1951 Sep 22;2(4733):711-3. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.4733.711. PMID: 14869699Free PMC Article

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Men's Health: Scrotal and Testicular Conditions.
Rew KT, Langan RC, Hadj-Moussa M, Heidelbaugh JJ
FP Essent 2021 Apr;503:23-27. PMID: 33856180
Epidemiology of hydrocele and spermatocele; incidence, treatment and complications.
Lundström KJ, Söderström L, Jernow H, Stattin P, Nordin P
Scand J Urol 2019 Apr-Jun;53(2-3):134-138. Epub 2019 Apr 16 doi: 10.1080/21681805.2019.1600582. PMID: 30990342
Epididymal Cysts: Are They Associated With Infertility?
Weatherly D, Wise PG, Mendoca S, Loeb A, Cheng Y, Chen JJ, Steinhardt G
Am J Mens Health 2018 May;12(3):612-616. Epub 2016 Apr 26 doi: 10.1177/1557988316644976. PMID: 27118455Free PMC Article
Adult hydrocele and spermatocele.
Rioja J, Sánchez-Margallo FM, Usón J, Rioja LA
BJU Int 2011 Jun;107(11):1852-64. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2011.10353.x. PMID: 21592287
Imaging of non-neoplastic intratesticular masses.
Bhatt S, Jafri SZ, Wasserman N, Dogra VS
Diagn Interv Radiol 2011 Mar;17(1):52-63. Epub 2010 Jun 30 doi: 10.4261/1305-3825.DIR.3116-09.0. PMID: 20677130

Diagnosis

Epididymal cyst in children.
Boscarelli A, Bellini T
Eur J Pediatr 2021 Sep;180(9):2723-2729. Epub 2021 Apr 14 doi: 10.1007/s00431-021-04080-5. PMID: 33851241
The "falling snow" sign.
Chen F, Cernigliaro J, Desai M, Bhatt S
Abdom Radiol (NY) 2020 Feb;45(2):587-588. doi: 10.1007/s00261-019-02360-1. PMID: 31822968
Adult hydrocele and spermatocele.
Rioja J, Sánchez-Margallo FM, Usón J, Rioja LA
BJU Int 2011 Jun;107(11):1852-64. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2011.10353.x. PMID: 21592287
Paratesticular tumor-like lesions.
Oliva E, Young RH
Semin Diagn Pathol 2000 Nov;17(4):340-58. PMID: 11202549
Testicular masses.
Junnila J, Lassen P
Am Fam Physician 1998 Feb 15;57(4):685-92. PMID: 9490992

Therapy

Aspiration and sclerotherapy of hydroceles and spermatoceles/epididymal cysts with 100% alcohol.
Low LS, Nair SM, Davies AJW, Akapita T, Holmes MA
ANZ J Surg 2020 Jan;90(1-2):57-61. Epub 2019 Oct 18 doi: 10.1111/ans.15467. PMID: 31628703
Modulation of the inflammatory response after sclerotherapy for hydrocoele/spermatocoele.
Jahnson S, Rosell J, Aljabery F
BJU Int 2019 May;123(5A):E63-E68. Epub 2018 Oct 23 doi: 10.1111/bju.14562. PMID: 30253006
An Evidence-Based Review of Off-Label Uses of Polidocanol.
Ebrahimi SRS, Enamzadeh E, Babaei H
Curr Clin Pharmacol 2017;12(4):223-230. doi: 10.2174/1574884713666180223121828. PMID: 29473522
Cryptorchidism: medium- and long-term follow-up.
Rossi V, Sartori A, Bordin G, Parolini F, Morandi A, Arnoldi R, Brisighelli G, Leva E, Torricelli EM
Minerva Pediatr 2013 Jun;65(3):261-9. PMID: 23685377
Spermatocele following kidney transplant.
Osband AJ, Laskow DA
Am J Transplant 2012 Jul;12(7):1936-7. Epub 2012 Apr 5 doi: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2012.04043.x. PMID: 22487000

Prognosis

Microscopic Cyst Resection for the Treatment of Patients Diagnosed with Epididymal Cyst.
Zhao L, Yu Z, Zhang Z
J Vis Exp 2023 Mar 31;(193) doi: 10.3791/64083. PMID: 37067264
Epidemiology of hydrocele and spermatocele; incidence, treatment and complications.
Lundström KJ, Söderström L, Jernow H, Stattin P, Nordin P
Scand J Urol 2019 Apr-Jun;53(2-3):134-138. Epub 2019 Apr 16 doi: 10.1080/21681805.2019.1600582. PMID: 30990342
Epididymal Cysts: Are They Associated With Infertility?
Weatherly D, Wise PG, Mendoca S, Loeb A, Cheng Y, Chen JJ, Steinhardt G
Am J Mens Health 2018 May;12(3):612-616. Epub 2016 Apr 26 doi: 10.1177/1557988316644976. PMID: 27118455Free PMC Article
Cryptorchidism: medium- and long-term follow-up.
Rossi V, Sartori A, Bordin G, Parolini F, Morandi A, Arnoldi R, Brisighelli G, Leva E, Torricelli EM
Minerva Pediatr 2013 Jun;65(3):261-9. PMID: 23685377
Adult hydrocele and spermatocele.
Rioja J, Sánchez-Margallo FM, Usón J, Rioja LA
BJU Int 2011 Jun;107(11):1852-64. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2011.10353.x. PMID: 21592287

Clinical prediction guides

Spermatocytes observed in the fine needle aspirate of spermatocele of the scrotum. Case report and review of the literature.
Sakuma T, Mori M, Kokubo C
Diagn Cytopathol 2019 Sep;47(9):972-974. Epub 2019 May 1 doi: 10.1002/dc.24205. PMID: 31041857
Modulation of the inflammatory response after sclerotherapy for hydrocoele/spermatocoele.
Jahnson S, Rosell J, Aljabery F
BJU Int 2019 May;123(5A):E63-E68. Epub 2018 Oct 23 doi: 10.1111/bju.14562. PMID: 30253006
Epididymal Cysts: Are They Associated With Infertility?
Weatherly D, Wise PG, Mendoca S, Loeb A, Cheng Y, Chen JJ, Steinhardt G
Am J Mens Health 2018 May;12(3):612-616. Epub 2016 Apr 26 doi: 10.1177/1557988316644976. PMID: 27118455Free PMC Article
Sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography in predicting etiology of azoospermia.
Abdulwahed SR, Mohamed EE, Taha EA, Saleh MA, Abdelsalam YM, ElGanainy EO
Urology 2013 May;81(5):967-71. Epub 2013 Feb 28 doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2013.01.001. PMID: 23453653
Effect of spermatocele fluid on growth of human prostatic cells in culture.
Sutkowski DM, Kasjanski RZ, Sensibar JA, Ney KG, Lim DJ, Kozlowski JM, Lee C, Grayhack JT
J Androl 1993 Jul-Aug;14(4):233-9. PMID: 8226302

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