Abstract
The epididymis is susceptible to being injured secondary to situations that cause an obstruction of the spermatic ducts when the absorption capacity of testicular fluid and duct dilation are exceeded. Sonographically the expansion of the duct can simulate the “filarial dance” described in epididymides of adult men infected with Wuchereria bancrofti. The wall rupture leads to extravasations of spermatozoa and development of spermatic granulomas or an isthmic nodosa epididymitis, completely similar to the vasitis with the same name. Even in the best situation, a prolonged obstruction causes histological changes in the epididymis wall, altering the motility that can lead to situations of unbearable pain requiring surgical intervention. Increased phagocytosis of cells of the efferent ductules elicits changes called Paneth cell-like changes. Ischemia of the epididymis can cause a reaction (ischemic epididymitis) simulating bacterial granulomatous lesions. The prostate and squamous metaplasia are also included in this chapter.
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Nistal, M., González-Peramato, P., Serrano, Á. (2017). Reactive Pathology of the Epididymis. In: Clues in the Diagnosis of Non-tumoral Testicular Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49364-0_33
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