Torsion of huge epididymal cyst in a 16-year-old boy: case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Epididymal cysts (ECs) are relatively common in adults, rare in children. Normally their treatment is conservative. They may be situated anywhere in the organ, frequently in the region of the head. Torsion of these cysts is extremely rare in both children and adults, causing acute scrotal swelling. The diagnosis is intraoperative. A 16-year-old boy was referred to our Divisional Clinic by the treating physician for scrotal swelling appeared 4 months earlier. Absence of a history of minor scrotal trauma. Ultrasonography showed a 40×50 mm fluid-filled right para-testicular mass. We performed surgery finding a large black cyst connected to the head of the epididymis with 720°-degrees rotation. Histology revealed an acquired EC. The particularity of our case is due to the absence of symptoms in association with a big EC twisted of 720° degrees. This is the only case reported in literature. All patients with EC torsion reported presented symptoms related to acute scrotum.