Brucellar epididymo-orchitis: a retrospective study of 25 cases

Abstract

Objective: Brucellosis is a multisystemic disease which may affect all organs. Epididymo-orchitis is the most common form of genitourinary involvement. The aim of this study was to present our eight-year experience regarding the management of patients with brucellar epididymo-orchitis (BEO).Materials and method: The medical records of male brucellosis patients treated in two centers, between 2010 and 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. The diagnosis of epididymo-orchitis was made when the patients had scrotal pain, swelling, and enlarged tender testicles and/or epididymis on clinical examination. Brucellosis was diagnosed with a positive standard tube agglutination test or a positive blood culture.Results: Brucellosis was diagnosed in 996 male patients. Of these patients, 25 had a diagnosis of BEO (2.5%). All BEO patients suffered from enlarged painful testicles, however, testicular complaints were the only presentation symptoms in three of them. All patients received medical treatment alone except one patient with testicular abscess who underwent surgical drainage besides medical treatment. All patients recovered completely and no relapses have been detected during six-month follow-up.Conclusion: Patients with epididymo-orchitis should be investigated for brucellosis especially in endemic regions. To our knowledge, BEO patients may present with isolated testicular symptoms that make a diagnostic challenge.