Spermatocele
| Classification according to ICD-10 | |
|---|---|
| N43.4 | Spermatocele |
| Q55.4 | Other congenital malformations of the ductus deferens, the epididymis, the vesiculae seminales and the prostate |
| ICD-10 online (WHO version 2019) | |
A spermatocele is a retention cyst originating from the epididymis (more rarely from the spermatic cord ) , ie a cystic widening formed by an obstruction to drainage and filled with protein-rich and sperm-containing fluid. As a rule, the spermatocele is located at the upper pole of the testicle and can initially be felt from the outside as a pin-head-sized nodule. If left untreated, it can grow to grapefruit size or more over years.
Diagnosis
Spermatocele must be differentiated from sperm granulomas , testicular tumors and epididymal tumors .
Emergence
The spermatocele is usually the result of trauma or inflammation of the epididymis ( epididymitis ), but it can also be congenital. It occurs in 80% of all men, but in most of them it is only small in size or not even noticeable. In 5% of all men this widening is pathological and much larger. It can occur both bilaterally and unilaterally.
therapy
Asymptomatic spermatoceles do not require treatment. In the early stages, surgery is not advisable because of the risks.
Treatment is indicated in the case of increased size, pain and pressure. Surgical access is provided by a deep inguinal incision or a scrotal incision . Complications of the operation are bleeding, scrotal hematoma, lymphedema, swelling, wound infection, infection of the testes and epididymis, and also recurrence . An infertility by the operation can not be avoided in most cases.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Alphabetical directory for the ICD-10-WHO Version 2019, Volume 3. German Institute for Medical Documentation and Information (DIMDI), Cologne, 2019, p. 816
