Home / Anomalies / Spermatocele: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

What you need to know about spermatocele, its causes, symptoms and treatment

Spermatocele, seed or a cyst, is a cavity located in the testicle or epididymis is formed by the fibrous sheath. It is filled with seminal fluid containing the spermatocytes and sperm. Spermatocele can be either congenital or acquired, and has the property for a long time to occur so that any symptoms. Early diagnosis of such cysts is possible only with regular medical examinations, and most often they are found accidentally.

Causes of diseases in babies – the presence of nazarovskogo footage müller duct. Size spermatocele in this case does not exceed 2.5 cm. It is formed from embryonic tissue, the remains of which are on the head of the epididymis or in the upper part of the testicle (testis). Such spermatocele usually filled with seminal fluid without spermatozoa.

Causes of acquired spermatocele – infectious or inflammatory processes of the genitals that lead to a narrowing of the seminal ducts or their complete obliteration. The liquid in the cavity usually contains not only sperm, but also other cells.

How find seed cyst

The cavity is usually discovered accidentally during hygienic procedures or routine medical diagnostics in the examination. This is due to the fact that for a long time after the appearance of cysts any symptoms. Early diagnosis – the key to monitor the status of spermatocele. Timely diagnosis gives you the opportunity to start the treatment without waiting for neoplastic degeneration of the tissues or the development of severe symptoms of an infectious process.

Gradually expanding, spermatocele begins to interfere with the man during walking and hamper sexual intercourse. In the diagnosis by palpation this spermatocele is always found on the outside of the testicle and the epididymis, but they are closely associated with them. The main symptoms spermatocele usually appear when the cavity fills up with fluid and puts pressure on the testicles and scrotum, causing discomfort. Can form swelling.

Diagnosis is conducted by means of probing and examination of the scrotum. Clarify the diagnosis and establishing the exact localization spermatocele requires ultrasound or MRI. A clarification of the reasons spermatocele possible after its inspiration and analysis inside environment. It is highly effective for the diagnosis of cavities diaphanoscopy. It uses a special device that allows you to inspect the scrotum to the light with a special beam. Symptom development of cysts is a characteristic shadow.

Diaphanoscopy makes it impossible to evaluate the content spermatocele. For these purposesusually use this type of diagnostics, as ultrasound. The cavity has a uniform liquid content. This diagnostic method also allows to pinpoint the location of attachment of the cyst for further operations.

How is it treated

Medication spermatocele inefficient. Spermatocele small size, it shouldn't cause the patient any discomfort and do not have symptoms, see assigning surgical treatment only:

  • in the case of pain, negative impact on sexual intercourse
  • if you have started to develop symptoms of the inflammatory process,
  • when injury scrotum, in which the cavity is terminated.

Spermatocele too large may cause pain during walking and exercise. In addition, the pressure in the ducts may cause problems with the excretion of urine or sperm.

The development of inflammation can cause acute pain and swelling of the scrotum. A similar situation is obtained due to the violation of the integrity of spermatocele. Its contents poured inside the scrotum, creating the so-called diffuse inflammation. In the blood increases the number of antibodies that can spread inflammation in both testicles. Arising of bilateral orchitis can cause infertility. In the presence of an inflammatory process, surgical intervention is performed only after the treatment with antibiotics and removal of the symptoms of inflammation.

The operation is performed by such methods:

  • spermatocelectomy,
  • spermatocelectomy with prosthetics duct,
  • puncture
  • sclerotherapy.

Surgical treatment spermatocele called spermatocelectomy and is performed under local and under General anesthesia. Despite the sparing action of local anesthesia currently the most popular is the General anesthesia. This is due to the fact that it is less traumatic for the psyche of the patient. This is especially true if the surgery is performed baby. After valesiana spermatocele it is mandatory histological examination.

Treatment of congenital spermatocele is removed, after which the operation normally ends. This is not the case if the treatment of acquired cysts. After its removal, it is imperative to restore the patency of the seminal duct within which it was located. For this there are a wide variety of prostheses and grafts that can replace the damaged area and restore normal flow of semen.

In case the patient is contraindicated for conventional surgical treatment or is it for some reason refuses to him, may be carried out so-calledpuncture spermatocele (another name for the procedure – needle aspiration). It is performed with a special hollow needle under ultrasound guidance. This method can not completely rid the patient of the problem, and often after the vote spermatocele recurs. Cases are known when such a treatment is called acute. Therefore, this method is currently used very rarely.

Sclerotherapy is similar to aspiration, but after you delete the contents inside the cavity, we introduce a special solution, causing the hardening (the formation of connective tissue) spermatocele walls and their collapse. After the introduction of the massage, promoting uniform distribution sclerocarya fluid duct.

The restoration and the consequences

Timely treatment allows the patient to quickly get rid of unpleasant symptoms. Modern surgery allows you to remove spermatocele with a minimum number of formed scars, which heal quickly.

It is important that the patient strictly complied with the recommendations of your doctor and refrain from overexertion. This applies to physical work, long walks and sex in the period of healing of the scar and repair damaged tissues and vessels of the scrotum, damaged during the operation. Bed rest and a special support bandage to help support the testicles and prevent the development of pain and swelling.

Treatment prognosis is usually favorable spermatocele. After healing scars the patient within a month returned to normal. Possible complications can be:

  • bleeding
  • swelling of the testicle
  • the formation of rough scars,
  • infertility associated with conduction disturbance VAS deferens.

In case the treatment was carried out sparing methods, possible relapses, frequent repetition of which aggravates the problem and leads to tissue damage to the testicles. The development of bilateral spermatocele may cause infertility, related by displacement of the ducts and the inability of normal movement of the semen.