eMedicine Specialties > Urology > Common Problems of the Testicle
Spermatocele: Treatment
Updated: Jun 26, 2009
Treatment
Medical Therapy
No specific medical therapy is indicated for treatment of a simple spermatocele. Oral analgesics may be prescribed for symptomatic relief. If an underlying epididymitis is responsible for discomfort, antibiotics may be indicated. Observation is usually used for simple, small asymptomatic spermatoceles.
Surgical Therapy
Spermatocelectomy via a transscrotal approach is the primary operative intervention for spermatocele, and it may be offered to any reasonable surgical candidate. Systemic anticoagulation and desire to father children are relative contraindications.
Sclerotherapy is an alternative to excision, but results appear to be less effective. Sclerotherapy is usually reserved for men who have no desire for future paternity, as the risk of ensuing chemical epididymitis and resultant epididymal damage may impair fertility. Because aspiration of spermatocele alone is associated with a high recurrence rate, a sclerosing agent is used to cause coaptation of the walls of the cyst. Several sclerosant materials have been used, including tetracycline, fibrin glue, phenol, sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STD), quinine, talc powder, polidocanol, and ethanolamine oleate, all with degrees of success varying from 30%-100%. Comparative trials have not established any one agent as a superior spermatocele sclerosing agent.2 Similarly, no standard dosing for maximal benefit is currently available.
Preoperative Details
Spermatocelectomy
Spermatocelectomy is typically performed on an outpatient basis, with either regional or general anesthesia. The choice is based on the preference of the patient, surgeon, and anesthesiologist. The patient must be counseled regarding the risks of infertility, as well as the more common complications of hematoma, infection, swelling, recurrence, and pain.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is performed on an outpatient basis after the potential complications are discussed. The administration of anesthesia is provided locally, although the timing may vary according to surgeon preference. Some have reported administration at the puncture site prior to initiating the procedure, while others instill the anesthetic during the instillation of the sclerosant, after aspiration has occurred.
Intraoperative Details
Spermatocelectomy
The scrotum is prepared and sterilely draped. In addition, a folded sterile towel placed beneath the scrotum supports and elevates it into the surgical field. Either a vertical median scrotal raphe or a transverse hemiscrotal incision may be used. The dissection is continued to the level of the tunica vaginalis with electrocautery. The testicle, epididymis, and spermatocele may then be delivered from the dartos with gentle blunt dissection, leaving the tunica intact. Alternatively, some surgeons instead incise the tunica vaginalis in situ and deliver the testicle and epididymis out of the wound. Using both blunt and sharp dissection, the spermatocele is isolated from the body of the epididymis, and, typically, a narrow neck is found attaching the spermatocele to the rest of the epididymis. This neck is ligated with a 3-0 absorbable suture and divided.
If a multiloculated spermatocele is present or the neck is not readily found, the spermatocele is ideally kept intact while it is gently dissected away from normal tissue. Preventing perforation may be difficult because of the adherent nature of surrounding tissues but is advantageous, as it simplifies dissection and limits the spillage of potentially locally irritating sperm. When a plane cannot be readily developed, some advocate excision of adjacent normal epididymis with the specimen (partial epididymectomy); however, this increases the risk of epididymal obstruction.
Once the spermatocele has been dissected free and removed, hemostasis must be obtained. Because of the capacious nature of the scrotum, bleeding does not readily tamponade. Dramatic postoperative hematomas can result.
After achieving hemostasis, the tunica/dartos layer is closed with a 2-0 or 3-0 absorbable running suture, and the skin is closed with 3-0 absorbable suture in a subcuticular, interrupted, or running stitch. Dry gauze fluffs and an ice pack are placed on the scrotum, and the patient is discharged with a scrotal supporter.
Sclerotherapy
The scrotum is prepared and sterilely draped. The scrotal skin is punctured at the most prominent point of protrusion with a 16-gauge intravenous cannula. Fiber optic lighting or ultrasound guidance may be used at the discretion of the surgeon. If the spermatocele is multicystic, ultrasound guidance may also be used to ensure that all cavities are aspirated. The needle is withdrawn from the plastic sheath of the cannula, and all of the cystic fluid is withdrawn with a syringe. Manual manipulation of the scrotum is needed to ensure complete evacuation of the spermatic fluid.
A sclerosant is then instilled through the cannula after the spermatocele fluid has been evacuated. The amount and type of sclerosant varies, depending on an individual practitioner's preference. The amount of sclerosant used depends on the amount of fluid aspirated from the spermatocele and the adopted technique. Volumes for one such technique are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Volume of Sclerosant Solution Used for Sclerotherapy
Open table in new window
Table
| Fluid Aspirated from Spermatocele (Volume in mL) | Sclerosant Solution Injected (Volume in mL) |
|---|---|
| <20 | 2 |
| 20-50 | 3 |
| 51-100 | 5 |
| 101-200 | 10 |
| 201-300 | 15 |
| 301-400 | 20 |
| 401-800 | 25 |
| >800 | 30 |
| Fluid Aspirated from Spermatocele (Volume in mL) | Sclerosant Solution Injected (Volume in mL) |
|---|---|
| <20 | 2 |
| 20-50 | 3 |
| 51-100 | 5 |
| 101-200 | 10 |
| 201-300 | 15 |
| 301-400 | 20 |
| 401-800 | 25 |
| >800 | 30 |
After sclerosant installation, the cannula is removed and the scrotum massaged by hand to ensure adequate distribution of the sclerosant solution throughout the injection cavity.
Postoperative Details
Spermatocelectomy
Postoperatively, patients are encouraged to continue scrotal support, using an athletic supporter for a minimum of 48 hours after discharge. Additionally, gentle scrotal elevation while the patient is supine may decrease the risk of uncomfortable postoperative edema. Intermittent application of cold or ice packs to the dressing is commonly used. Oral analgesics (eg, acetaminophen and codeine [Tylenol #3] or hydrocodone and acetaminophen [Vicodin] 1-2 tabs PO q4-6h prn) should provide adequate postoperative pain relief. Patients are instructed to keep the dressing in place, to allow the wound to dry for 48 hours, and to avoid strenuous activity for 2 weeks.
Sclerotherapy
Direct pressure to the scrotum should be avoided. Patients often do not require narcotic analgesics and, after being observed for 1-3 hours, may be discharged without any physical restrictions.
Follow-up
Spermatocelectomy
Patients are scheduled to return 2-6 weeks postoperatively to evaluate the wound and address any additional concerns.
Sclerotherapy
Each patient is assessed 1 month after surgery and reassessed at 4-6 months. If the spermatocele has recurred or is bothersome, imaging studies are obtained, and, if a spermatocele is present, the patient is offered an additional course of sclerotherapy or surgical excision.
For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Men's Health Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education article Understanding the Male Anatomy.
Complications
Spermatocelectomy
As should be routinely discussed preoperatively, any invasive surgical procedure has inherent risks. Epididymal injury and obstruction may occur. Gross injury to the epididymis, confirmed histologically based on its presence in the spermatocele specimen, has been reported in as many as 17% of patients. Inadvertent epididymal obstruction without excision certainly may exceed this. Infertility may result from either injury. The authors routinely counsel patients that infertility may result. Additional risks include scrotal hematoma formation, superficial wound infection, swelling, and recurrence of the spermatocele.
Sclerotherapy
Following sclerotherapy, potential complications include epididymal injury, infertility, bleeding, infection, chemical epididymitis, and spermatocele recurrence. A 65% success rate is quoted, although patients with large or multiloculated spermatoceles were more likely to have a recurrence that required additional intervention. Finally, as result of the chemically induced inflammatory reaction, scrotal wall thickening may develop postsclerotherapy.
More on Spermatocele |
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| Workup: Spermatocele |
 Treatment: Spermatocele |
| Follow-up: Spermatocele |
| Multimedia: Spermatocele |
| References |
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References
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Further Reading
Keywords
spermatocele, epididymal cyst, scrotal mass, hydroceles, varicoceles, epididymis, testis, testicle, epididymitis, spermatocelectomy, sclerotherapy, scrotum, benign cystic accumulation of sperm, epididymal ductal obstruction, cystic segmental dilatation of epididymis, chemical epididymitis
