Clinical features of testicular torsion and epididymo-orchitis in infants younger than 3 months.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Testicular torsion (TT) and orchitis/epididymo-orchitis (EO) are confusing and difficult for physicians to diagnose in infants younger than 3 months. The aim of the study was to delineate the etiology and the clinical features of TT and EO in this age group. METHODS: During the period between April 1994 and September 2004, medical charts of infants younger than 3 months with TT and EO were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were eligible for the study, including 9 with TT and 7 with orchitis/EO. Two infants had postnatal torsion, and the testicles were salvaged by emergent surgery. Eighty-six percent (6/7) of infants with EO/orchitis had either abnormal physical signs (fever or scrotal tenderness) or abnormal laboratory findings (leukocytosis or elevated C-reactive protein level). The sensitivity of color Doppler ultrasound to diagnose TT and EO/orchitis was 88% (7/8) and 100% (6/6), respectively. All infants (6/6) with EO/orchitis who were checked for urinary tract infection and sepsis had positive test results. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatricians should examine the testicles meticulously after a baby is born. Orchitis/EO is highly suspected for patients associated with abnormal physical signs and laboratory findings. Prompt prescription of antibiotics is mandatory to avoid serious sequelae.

[Urogenital malformation complex including the Mullerian system]. / Urogenitaler Missbildungskomplex mit Einbeziehung des Müller-Systems.

Symptomatic cystic epididymis in a 21-year-old man led to the detection of several genital malformations, including a partially obstructing pelvic cyst, prostatic and bilateral testicular atrophy and penoscrotal hypospadias. These malformations are probably due to a deficiency of either testosterone or müllerian inhibiting hormone (MIH). Development of the male genitalia is influenced by testosterone secreted in the Leydig cells during weeks 8-16 of gestation, while regression of the müllerian ducts is induced by MIH secreted in the Sertoli cells from weeks 9-12 of gestation.

Epididymitis in infants and boys: underlying urogenital anomalies and efficacy of imaging modalities.

Of 47 children diagnosed as having epididymitis between 1975 and 1985, 8 of 17 prepubertal patients (47 per cent, or 17 per cent of the total group), including 3 of 4 infants (75 per cent), had an underlying urogenital anomaly. Thus, patients with epididymitis secondary to an underlying anomaly present at an earlier age. The common finding in patients with underlying anomalies was a pathological connection between the urinary tract and the genital duct system or bowel. Coliform urinary infections predominated in patients with underlying anomalies (4 of 6). Although a positive urine culture suggested an underlying anomaly (positive predictive value 0.60), a negative culture virtually ruled out an anomaly (negative predictive value 1.00). Of the 8 patients with underlying anomalies 6 underwent voiding cystourethrography and 6 underwent excretory urography, and the diagnosis was established in 6 (100 per cent) and 4 (67 per cent), respectively. Thus, voiding cystourethrography has the greatest diagnostic yield. Any prepubertal patient with epididymitis merits a complete urological evaluation, including a urine culture, voiding cystourethrography and excretory urography to rule out an underlying urogenital anomaly, which often is amenable to an operation. Surgery often involves severance of the pathological urogenital or urinary-fecal connection and it was successful in 7 of our 8 patients.