Definition
Cystic dilatation of the efferent ductules of the rete testis or epididymis.
Clinical Features
Incidence
It is a common condition, and it’s found by chance in 30% of men who undertake ultrasonography for other reasons.
Age
It affects mainly young adult/adult males (20–50 years old).
Presentation
It presents as an ovoid, soft, palpable mass, usually asymptomatic. It may become large and displace the testis.
Treatment
A surgical solution is required only in selected cases, such as the persistence of the symptoms or the necessity of ruling out a paratesticular neoplasm.
Outcome
It is a benign condition and the prognosis is excellent.
Macroscopy
Once removed, it appears as a collapsed membrane of a unilocular or multilocular cyst.
Microscopy
The wall of the cyst is lined by a single layer of cuboidal or flat epithelial cells, sometimes ciliated. The epithelial lining may form papillary projections lined by benign cells. The cyst contains proteinaceous fluid and spermatozoa. In...
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References and Further Reading
Lane, Z., & Epstein, J. I. (2010). Small blue cells mimicking small cell carcinoma in spermatocele and hydrocele specimens: A report of 5 cases. Human Pathology, 41(1), 88–93.
Yeh, H.-C., Wang, C.-J., et al. (2007). Giant Spermatocele mimicking hydrocele: A case report. The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences, 23(7), 366–369.
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Fattorini, C., Lopez-Beltran, A., Raspollini, M.R. (2020). Spermatocele. In: Raspollini, M.R., Lopez-Beltran, A. (eds) Uropathology. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41894-6_4949
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41894-6_4949
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