Spermatic granuloma presenting as an epididymal nodule: fine needle aspiration cytological findings and differential diagnosis.

ABSTRACT

Spermatic granuloma is a granulomatous lesion that presents clinically as a nodular lesion in the region of epididymis. There are only few documented cases of spermatic granuloma in the literature. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) reveals mixed inflammatory cells comprising of plenty of macrophages along with lymphocytes and scattered polymorphs in a fluidy background containing many spermatozoa and sperm heads. Sperm heads are also noted within macrophages. Ill formed to well-formed granulomas were seen in all the cases. FNA has an important role in the differential diagnosis of epididymal nodule as it can rule out malignancy and other benign cytological diagnosis like tuberculosis, acute and chronic epididymo-orchitis. Distinction of spermatic granulomas from the more common tuberculous granulomatous infection is important from the cytopathologist's point of view. By providing an accurate and rapid diagnosis, FNA prevents aggressive and potentially inappropriate surgical procedures.