Hydrocele

Alternative names:

processus vaginalis

Definition:

A fluid-filled sack along the spermatic cord within the scrotum.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Hydroceles are common in the newborn infant. They may be unilateral or bilateral and result when there is failure of the tract through which the testis descends from the abdomen into the scrotum, to close. Peritoneal fluid drains through the open tract from the abdomen into the scrotum where it becomes trapped causing enlargement of the scrotum.

Hydroceles may also be caused by inflammation or trauma of the testicle or epididymis or by fluid or blood obstruction within the spermatic cord. The incidence of this type of hydrocele is higher in older men.

Hydroceles normally resolve after a few months after birth but their appearance may worry new parents. Occasionally, a hydrocele may be associated with an inguinal hernia. Hydroceles can be easily demonstrated by shining a flashlight through the enlarged portion of the scrotum. If the scrotum is full of clear fluid, as in a hydrocele, the scrotum will light up (transillumination).