V08_No_2_Final.pdf


Case Report

163Urology Journal   Vol 8   No 2   Spring 2011

Accidental Rupture of Hydrocele
A Case Report

Viroj Wiwanitkit

Urol J. 2011;8:163-4.
www.uj.unrc.ir

Keywords: testicular hydrocele, 
rupture, cysts

Wiwanitkit House, Bangkhae, 
Bangkok, Thailand

Corresponding Author:
Viroj Wiwanitkit, MD

Wiwanitkit House, Bangkhae, 
Bangkok, 10160, Thailand

Tel: +66 2413 2436
E-mail: wviroj@yahoo.com

Received October 2009
Accepted November 2009

INTRODUCTION
Of several male genital tract 
disorders that present as a mass, 
hydrocele is a common pathological 
condition.(1) The easy way to 
confirm the diagnosis of hydrocele 
is the translucent test,(2) and surgery 
is the recommended modality for 
its management.(1,3) Herein, we 
report a case of hydrocele that is 
accidentally ruptured, without 
subsequent serious complication.

CASE REPORT
A 24-year-old man presented with 
accidental rupture of a mass in his 
genitalia. He noted that the rupture 
had occurred about 2 hours before. 
His past history showed that he 
had been diagnosed with right side 
hydrocele for about 4 years. He had 
been suggested to have a surgery for 
hydrocele, but he refused.

The mass in his genitalia was 
recorded to be about 2 × 2 × 3 cm. 
Ultrasonography confirmed the 
nature of hydrocele. The patient 
reported that he had got accidental 
attack by a big box during his daily 
work on that day and he had felt 
sudden pain as well as decreased 
size of mass in his genitalia.

DISCUSSION
Basically, the hydrocele is a 
benign cystic mass. In this report, 
the patient had a clear history 

of attack by a heavy box, which 
resulted in the sudden rupture of 
the hydrocele. In this patient, the 
indication for surgical management 
had been already reached before, 
but the patient refused the surgical 
procedure.

The accidental rupture in this 
subject led to a sudden decrease 
in size of the mass, which 
made the patient refer to the 
physician. Indeed, this condition 
is not common.(4,5) The clinical 
presentation of hydrocele may 
be minimal scrotal discomfort, 
disappearance of turgescence, late 
ecchymosis, and localized edema in 
the penis and scrotum.(5) Bleeding 
can also be expected.(6) The 
ruptured hydrocele can be a serious 
condition; however, it might be 
symptomless.

This patient was managed 
conservatively and there was no 
serious complication. However, the 
ruptured hydrocele without any 
serious complication is very rare.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None declared.

REFERENCES
1. Ounaies A, Halila M, Saadani 

H, el Kamel R, Jemni M. 
[Abdominoscrotal hydrocele]. Ann 
Urol (Paris). 2001;35:240-2.

2. Junnila J, Lassen P. Testicular



Accidental Rupture of Hydrocele—Wiwanitkit

164 Urology Journal   Vol 8   No 2   Spring 2011

masses. Am Fam Physician. 1998;57:685-92.

3. Jordan WP, Jr. Hydroceles and varicoceles. Surg Clin
North Am. 1965;45:1535-46.

4. Cuervo Pinna C, Rodriguez Rincon JP, Garcia-Moreno 
AA, Cabello Padial J, Murillo Mirat J, Fernandez de 
Alarcon L. [Spontaneous rupture of hydrocele: an 

unusual complication]. Actas Urol Esp. 1998;22:610-2.

5. Quint HJ, Miller JI, Drach GW. Rupture of a hydrocele: 
an unusual event. J Urol. 1992;147:1375-7.

6. Oeseburg HB. [An unusual cause of testicular 
hematocele]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 1976;120:
1739-40.