Unusual, benign asymptomatic scrotal masses in children: case reports and review of the literature.

Abstract

Asymptomatic scrotal masses (ASM) in children constitute an entity of pathologies, ranging from congenital anomalies to neoplasms. Testicular ultrasound is the imaging modality of choice in the evaluation of ASM, although there is extensive overlap between benign and malignant lesions. Five children with ASM of benign origin are presented: 2 boys had extratesticular mass (one paratesticular lipoma and one voluminous sebaceous scrotal cyst); the remaining 3 patients had testicular mass (one supernumerary testis, one intratesticular cyst and one unilateral testicular hypertrophy). Basing on the ultrasonographic appearance, a certain diagnosis of benign lesion was made only in the last 2 cases; the remaining patients underwent explorative inguinotomy in order to rule out any malignancy. Some guidelines for proper diagnosis of ASM in childhood are proposed by the authors. However, at least in children, testicular preservation should not be based only on the sonographic findings, and surgical exploration is mandatory whenever the nature of the lesion remains unclear.