Testicular appendage torsion in children.

BACKGROUND: Testicular appendage torsion (TAT) is a medical emergency that presents as an acute scrotum, usually in children and preadolescents. In previous reports of TAT, most cases have been treated conservatively, but some necessitate surgical treatment. Our aim was to examine the incidence, clinical examination findings, etiology, and treatment of TAT. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed records of all patients with TAT (aged ≤15 years) treated at the Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital between January 2012 and September 2020. Surgical treatment was performed when a diagnosis of testicular torsion could not be completely ruled out or if pain recurred after conservative treatment. Patients with a hard scrotum or scrotal erythema were hospitalized for conservative treatment. Data regarding age, diagnosis, blood test results, and clinical findings were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 101 boys with TAT, the median age was 10 years. The incidence of TAT varied significantly according to age and was highest among patients aged 8-11 years. Sixty-seven boys (66.3%) underwent inpatient surgical treatment, 10 boys (9.9%) received inpatient conservative treatment, and 24 boys (23.8%) received outpatient conservative treatment. The median duration of hospitalization was significantly shorter among those who underwent surgery (2.0 days) than among those who received inpatient conservative treatment group (3.5 days). CONCLUSIONS: Operations were short, uncomplicated, and safe; they shortened the hospital stay; and they would certainly prevent recurrence of TAT and testicular torsion on one side. Furthermore, we recommended that TAT patients presenting with signs of severe inflammation, such as hard scrotum or scrotal erythema, receive early surgical treatment to minimize duration of hospitalization.

[Clinical effect of a scrotal rapid recovery dressing device in the treatment of acute epididymitis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effect of a scrotal rapid recovery dressing device, scrotal girdle, on the scrotum of the patient with acute epididymitis, so as to improve the prognosis and the patient's satisfaction. METHODS: A total of 120 patients with acute epididymitis were treated in our hospital from December 2018 to November 2019, 60 with the scrotal girdle plus local cold compress in addition to antibiotics administration (the scrotal girdle group) and the other 60 with antibiotics only (the control group), all for 6 days. Then, comparisons were made between the two groups of patients in the improvement of scrotal swelling, total effectiveness rate and the patients' satisfaction with therapeutic outcomes. RESULTS: After 6 days of treatment, the patients in the scrotal girdle group, compared with the controls, showed significantly lower scrotal swelling scores (1.01 ± 0.34 vs 1.38 ± 0.20, P < 0.05), a higher total effectiveness rate (83.33% vs 65%, P < 0.05) and higher satisfaction with the therapeutic outcomes (86.67% vs 56.67%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For the treatment of acute epididymitis, the application of the scrotal girdle for protection can significantly relieve scrotal pain and discomfort, improve the therapeutic effect and patients' satisfaction, and enhance the patients' recovery and quality of life.

Variation in the evaluation of testicular conditions across United States pediatric emergency departments.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the variation in diagnostic testing and management for males diagnosed with three testicular conditions (testicular torsion, appendix testis torsion, epididymitis/orchitis) using a large pediatric health care database. Diagnostic testing is frequently used in evaluation of the acute scrotum; however, there is likely variability in the use of these tests in the emergency department setting. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of males with the diagnoses of testicular torsion, appendix testis torsion, and epididymitis/orchitis. We identified emergency department patients in the Pediatric Health Information Systems (PHIS) database from 2010 to 2015 using diagnostic and procedure codes from the International Classification of Diseases Codes 9 and 10. Frequencies of diagnoses by demographic characteristics and of procedures and diagnostic testing (ultrasound, urinalysis, urine culture and sexually transmitted infection testing) by age group were calculated. We analyzed testing trends over time. RESULTS: We identified 17,000 males with the diagnoses of testicular torsion (21.7%), appendix testis torsion (17.9%), and epididymitis/orchitis (60.3%) from 2010 to 2015. There was substantial variation among hospitals in all categories of testing for each of the diagnoses. Overall, ultrasound utilization ranged from 33.1-100% and urinalysis testing ranged from 17.0-84.9% for all conditions. Only urine culture testing decreased over time for all three diagnoses (40.6% in 2010 to 31.5 in 2015). CONCLUSIONS: There was wide variation in the use of diagnostic testing across pediatric hospitals for males with common testicular conditions. Development of evaluation guidelines for the acute scrotum could decrease variation in testing.

Novel algorithm for management of acute epididymitis.

OBJECTIVES: To identify predictive factors for the severity of epididymitis and to develop an algorithm guiding decisions on how to manage patients with this disease. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out on 160 epididymitis patients at Keio University Hospital. We classified cases into severe and non-severe groups, and compared clinical findings at the first visit. Based on statistical analyses, we developed an algorithm for predicting severe cases. We validated the algorithm by applying it to an external cohort of 96 patients at Tokyo Medical Center. The efficacy of the algorithm was investigated by a decision curve analysis. RESULTS: A total of 19 patients (11.9%) had severe epididymitis. Patient characteristics including older age, previous history of diabetes mellitus and fever, as well as laboratory data including a higher white blood cell count, C-reactive protein level and blood urea nitrogen level were independently associated with severity. A predictive algorithm was created with the ability to classify epididymitis cases into three risk groups. In the Keio University Hospital cohort, 100%, 23.5%, and 3.4% of cases in the high-, intermediate-, and low-risk groups, respectively, became severe. The specificity of the algorithm for predicting severe epididymitis proved to be 100% in the Keio University Hospital cohort and 98.8% in the Tokyo Medical Center cohort. The decision curve analysis also showed the high efficacy of the algorithm. CONCLUSIONS: This algorithm might aid in decision-making for the clinical management of acute epididymitis.

Management of acute scrotum in children: a 25-year single center experience on 558 pediatric patients.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to analyze management and outcomes of treatment in patients with acute scrotum. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January 1990 until January 2015 case records of 558 patients who underwent surgery for acute scrotum were retrospectively reviewed. Mean age was 12 years old. Each patient was analyzed for following parameters: history data, localization of pain, physical examination, operating results and the results of follow up, age, etiology, and the time from initial symptoms to surgery. RESULTS: Scrotal explorations revealed 142 cases (25%) of spermatic cord torsion, 344 (62%) torsion of the testicular appendage, 54 (10%) epididymitis, 10 (2%) testicular trauma and 8 cases (1%) of other conditions. Two peaks of incidence of spermatic cord torsion were found, the first during first year of life and the second between 13 and 15 years of life. In patients with spermatic cord torsion, median duration of symptoms in the group of salvaged testes was 6 hours; while in the group of patients who underwent orchiectomy was 46 hours. Of the total number of patients with spermatic cord torsion 40 patients (28%) underwent orchiectomy while 102 testicles (72%) were saved. There were no major complications. Acute scrotum is significantly more common in the winter. Torsion of the testis has the highest incidence in January and August. CONCLUSION: Early scrotal exploration based on careful physical examination decreases the risk of misdiagnosis of spermatic cord torsion. It is of great importance that the patient seeks immediate medical attention. If the patient arrived within 6 hours the testicle can be saved.

Epididymitis.

In April 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) convened an advisory group to assist in development of the 2015 CDC sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) treatment guidelines. The advisory group examined recent abstracts and published literature addressing the diagnosis and management of sexually transmitted infections. This article summarizes the key questions, evidence, and recommendations for the diagnosis and management of epididymitis that were considered in preparation of the 2015 CDC STD treatment guidelines.

[Spermatic cord seal-up injection for acute epididymitis: clinical observation of 56 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of spermatic cord seal-up injection on acute epididymitis and its mechanisms. METHODS: A total of 120 cases of acute epididymitis were allocated to a trial group (n = 56), aged 18 - 78 (38.4 +/- 9.6) years, and a control group (n = 64), aged 14 -82 (41.3 +/- 7.2) years. The patients in the trial group were given seal-up injections of a mixture of lidocaine, gentamicin (or Amikacin) and dexamethasone into the spermatic cord, qd or bid, for 2 courses of 5 days each, with an interval of 3 to 5 days. Those in the control group were treated by intravenous drip of penicillin, qd, intramuscular injection of Streptomycin, bid, and oral medication of SMZCo (SMZ-TMP), bid, with the initial dose doubled. After less than 2 weeks of treatment, we compared the therapeutic effects between the two groups of patients. RESULTS: In the trial group, 53.6% of the patients were basically cured, 37.5% obviously improved and 91.1% improved (total rate of effectiveness). The average treatment time for the improved cases was (9.2 +/- 0.5) d. In the control group, 40.6% of the patients were basically cured, 31.2% obviously improved and 71.8% improved (total rate of effectiveness). The average treatment time for the improved cases was (12.8 +/- 0.7) d. There were significant differences between the two groups in the total rate of effectiveness and the average treatment time for the improved cases (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Spermatic cord seal-up injection for acute epididymitis deserves wide clinical application for its simple operation, good tolerance, short therapeutic course and high safety and efficacy.

[A case of tuberculous epididymitis after Bacillus Calmette-Guérin intravesical instillation therapy for bladder cancer].

A 65-year-old male had undergone transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TUR-Bt) four times for recurrent bladder cancer, and each histopathological examination revealed non-invasive urothelial carcinoma, pTa, G2. To prevent further recurrence, he received eight weekly intravesical instillations of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). Four months after the BCG therapy, he underwent cystoscopy. One week after the cystoscopy, he developed a painful and swollen left scrotum. Treatment with levofloxacin for acute epididymitis reduced the scrotal pain initially, but the pain increased and 3 months later, a fistula with suppurative discharge appeared at the bottom of the scrotum. A smear of the discharge revealed Gaffky 2, and a culture showed tubercle bacillus. Incisional drainage of the abscess and anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy for 2 months to treat tuberculous epididymitis was not completely effective. We performed a left orchiectomy with resection of the infected scrotal skin. Histopathological examination showed tuberculous epididymitis consisting of a caseating granuloma with epithelioid cells and Langhans giant cells. He received anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy for 4 months postoperatively and had no sign of recurrence 1 year postoperatively.

Incidental Tuberculosis Epididymitis/Epididymo-orchitis: A Retrospective Analysis at a Tertiary Center in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the earliest noticeable manifestation and diagnosis in patients diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) epididymitis/epididymo-orchitis incidentally and to analyze their responses to surgical and medical treatment. METHODS: Patients who underwent surgery for the preliminary impression of chronic epididymitis/epididymo-orchitis or epididymal/testicular tumor from 2000 to 2019 were included in the study. The clinical presentations, laboratory data, radiological examinations, and operative findings were analyzed retrospectively. The outcomes were assessed by the responses to anti-TB chemotherapy and post treatment radiographic evaluations. RESULTS: All of our 25 patients with a mean age of 60.6 years were diagnosed incidentally with TB epididymitis (48.0%) and TB epididymo-orchitis (52.0%) according to the histopathological findings from their surgeries. The presence of a palpable scrotal mass (76.0%), was the major presentation. Nineteen (76.0%) patients had undergone complete chemotherapy after the surgery and 15 (78.9%) patients showed complete recovery. Four (21.1%) patients had unfavorable outcomes, 3 had TB autonephrectomies and 1 required re-surgery years after complete chemotherapy. Of the 3 (12.0%) patients who did not receive chemotherapy after their surgeries, 1 had a TB relapse in the spine and lung and 1 developed bladder cancer years later. CONCLUSION: Tuberculosis epididymitis/epididymo-orchitis is difficult to diagnose. However, some clinical clues can assist including aged patients, extragenital TB histories, poor responses to antibiotic treatment and scrotal skin lesion. Complete anti-TB chemotherapy is mandatory even after the total removal of TB lesion. Supplemental surgical interventions can be considered when the symptoms are not relieved after chemotherapy. Lifespan follow-up is recommended due to high relapse rate.

Epididymo-orchitis complicating anorectal malformations: collective review of 41 cases.

PURPOSE: Epididymo-orchitis is a devastating complication of imperforate anus. Without proper treatment the condition may result in infertility. Nevertheless, the exact etiology and optimal management of epididymo-orchitis in anorectal malformation are unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of our hospital records between 1997 and 2010 identified 6 cases of epididymo-orchitis in 82 boys with anorectal malformation. Extensive search of the literature revealed 35 additional cases. Clinical details of these 41 patients were analyzed using chi-square testing. RESULTS: Epididymo-orchitis occurred predominantly (86%) in high or intermediate anorectal malformation with rectourinary fistula. Median age at onset of epididymo-orchitis was 6 months and there was no side predilection. Urinary tract infection was noted in 54% of patients. Persistent mesonephric duct syndrome (27%), urethroejaculatory duct reflux (22%), vasovesical ectopia (10%), neurovesical dysfunction (34%) and urethral stricture/stenosis (17%) were frequently associated risk factors for epididymo-orchitis. In 73% of patients epididymo-orchitis recurred with exclusive antibiotic treatment. Diverting colostomy was ineffective in preventing epididymo-orchitis. Division of rectourinary fistula was curative in 36% of patients, while in 34% epididymo-orchitis recurred even after division of rectourinary fistula. Division of rectourinary fistula is likely to resolve epididymo-orchitis in the absence of additional risk factors. Vasectomy was required in 22% of patients to prevent recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to rectourinary fistula, urinary reflux into the vas deferens and neurovesical dysfunction are major risk factors for epididymo-orchitis in anorectal malformation. Division of rectourinary fistula is curative in only a third of cases. In the remaining cases some form of surgical disruption of the vas deferens is needed to resolve recurrent epididymo-orchitis.

Impact of intensified testing for urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis infections: a randomised study with 9-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: DNA amplification assays are increasingly being used to facilitate the testing of asymptomatic individuals for urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis. The long-term clinical benefit in terms of avoided infertility and ectopic pregnancy is unknown. METHODS: In 1997, 15,459 women and 14,980 men aged 21-23 years were living in Aarhus County, Denmark. A random sample of 4000 women and 5000 men was contacted by mail and offered the opportunity to be tested for C trachomatis by means of a sample obtained at home and mailed directly to the laboratory. The remaining 11,459 women and 9980 men received usual care and constituted the control population. All men and women were subsequently followed for 9 years by the use of Danish health registers. Data were collected on pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy (EP), infertility diagnoses, in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment and births in women, and on epididymitis in men. The intervention and control groups were compared using Cox regression analyses and the intention-to-screen principle. RESULTS: Among women, no differences were found between the intervention group and the control group: HR (95% CI) for PID 1.12 (0.70 to 1.79); EP 0.97 (0.63 to 1.51); infertility 0.87 (0.71 to 1.07); IVF treatment 0.88 (0.62 to 1.26) and births 1.02 (0.95 to 1.10). In men, the HR for epididymitis was 1.25 (0.70 to 2.24). CONCLUSIONS: A population-based offer to be tested for urogenital C trachomatis infection by the use of non-invasive samples and DNA amplification did not reduce the long-term risk of reproductive complications in women or of epididymitis in men.

[Clinical characteristics of acute scrotum: analysis of 316 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differential diagnosis and treatment of acute scrotum. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics of 316 cases of acute scrotum and reviewed the related literature. RESULTS: Among the total number, there were 117 cases of acute epididymitis (37.0%), 76 acute orchitis (24.1%), 39 acute periorchitis (12.3%), 23 acute scrotal infection (7.3%), 21 testicular trauma (6.6%), 17 idiopathic scrotal edema (5.4%), 16 testicular torsion (5.1%), and 7 scrotal gangrene (2.2%). Eighty-one of them underwent surgery and 235 received conservative treatment, of whom 1 with scrotal gangrene died of toxic shock for refusing surgical drainage. Those with testicular torsion all showed positive results in Prehn's test and responded well to surgery. CONCLUSION: Acute scrotum is detrimental to male health, for which early diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential.

A Teenager With Recurrent Epididymitis.

A 17-year-old man with a history of imperforate anus presented to clinic with recurrent epididymitis. A fluoroscopic voiding cystourethrogram demonstrated urethra-ejaculatory duct reflux. A narrowing was also noted in the distal prostatic urethra with dilation of the proximal urethra. Subsequent cystoscopy revealed a patent urethra with a hypertrophic external sphincter as the culprit. Pelvic floor physical therapy was undertaken with resolution of urinary symptoms and testicular pain.

Differential Immune Response to Infection and Acute Inflammation Along the Epididymis.

The epididymis is a tubular structure connecting the vas deferens to the testis. This organ consists of three main regions-caput, corpus, and cauda-that face opposing immunological tasks. A means of combating invading pathogens is required in the distally located cauda, where there is a risk of ascending bacterial infections originating from the urethra. Meanwhile, immune tolerance is necessary at the caput, where spermatozoa with immunogenic neo-antigens originate from the testis. Consistently, when challenged with live bacteria or inflammatory stimuli, the cauda elicits a much stronger immune response and inflammatory-inflicted damage than the caput. At the cellular level, a role for diverse and strategically positioned mononuclear phagocytes is emerging. At the mechanistic level, differential expression of immunoprotective and immunomodulatory mediators has been detected between the three main regions of the epididymis. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge about region-specific immunological characteristics and unveil possible underlying mechanisms on cellular and molecular levels. Improved understanding of the different immunological microenvironments is the basis for an improved therapy and counseling of patients with epididymal infections.

Epididymoorchitis due to Brucella melitensis: review of 19 patients.

INTRODUCTION: We describe the clinical characteristics, treatment and long-term outcome of 19 patients with Brucella epididymoorchitis treated at the Department of Urology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1998 and 2005, a total of 19 cases with epididymoorchitis due to Brucella melitensis were diagnosed at our hospital. The diagnosis of Brucella was made by isolating Brucella species from blood culture or epididymal aspiration or by standard tube agglutination testing and slide agglutination testing together with clinical findings. RESULTS: Seven cases (36.8%) had undulant fever. Brucella species was isolated from blood cultures in 11 patients and from epididymal aspiration in 3 patients. Rose Bengal tests were positive in all patients. Total recovery was obtained in 12 cases with a 6-week treatment. Five patients (26.3%) did not respond to therapy and another 2 (10.5%) relapsed. CONCLUSIONS: Brucella orchitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of scrotal pathologies where Brucella is endemic.

The safety and efficacy of acupuncture for epididymitis protocol for a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Epididymitis is a common disease in non-specific infections of the male reproductive system. According to the clinical incidence of acute epididymitis and chronic epididymitis, which is more common in chronic epididymitis. There are many clinical trials confirmed that acupuncture treatment can relieve pain and improve symptoms of epididymitis to some extent. In this systematic review, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for epididymitis. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will search for PubMed, Cochrane Library, AMED, EMbase, WorldSciNet; Nature, Science online and China Journal Full-text Database (CNKI), China Biomedical Literature CD-ROM Database (CBM), and related randomized controlled trials included in the China Resources Database. The time is limited from the construction of the library to November 2018. We will use the criteria provided by Cochrane 5.1.0 for quality assessment and risk assessment of the included studies, and use the Revman 5.3 and Stata13.0 software for meta-analysis of the effectiveness, recurrence rate, and symptom scores of epididymitis. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This systematic review will evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for epididymitis. Because all of the data used in this systematic review and meta-analysis has been published, this review does not require ethical approval. Furthermore, all data will be analyzed anonymously during the review process trial. REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42018111348.