Hydrocele

Abstract

A hydrocele is a collection of fluid in the tunica vaginalis of the testis and is one of the commonest scrotal pathologies. In its commonest form, a primary vaginal hydrocele is a cystic scrotal swelling, that is palpably inseparable from the testis and clearly transilluminates. It results from defective absorption of tunical fluid and therefore tends to be relatively large and tense. On the other hand, secondary hydroceles develop from excessive production of tunical fluid resulting from testicular pathology such as tumours, trauma and torsion. Since there is no defect in absorption of fluid from the tunical sac, these tend to be lax to palpate.