An abdominoscrotal hydrocele (ASH) is an uncommon condition characterized by cystic mass that occupies the scrotum and abdomen. The characteristic aspect is the presence of two hydrocele sacs in the abdominal cavity and the scrotum, and compression of one side causes enlargement of the other side, thereby connecting the two sacs. There are several hypotheses regarding the occurrence of ASH. However, the evidence of the hypotheses is lacking. The patient was a 52-year-old male. During observation of the right inguinoscrotal hydrocele, the patient complained of a palpable mass lesion on the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. Physical examination revealed ASH that occurred with the growth of the inguinoscrotal hydrocele. This was further confirmed by sequential imaging test thereby proposing the verification of cephalad extension of hydrocele. The surgical excision was recommended and inguinal exploration was performed under general anesthesia. No evidence of relapse was observed during the 2-year follow-up period after surgery. The present case proves the cephalad extension of hydrocele among other hypotheses on the etiology of ASH.
An inguinoscrotal hydrocele is a common disease occurring in both children and adults. However, abdominoscrotal hydrocele (ASH) in which the hydrocele is expanded into the abdomen through a deep inguinal ring and forms a dumbbell shape is uncommon. Initially, the number of ASH reports was small because the diagnosis was made only by physical examination or surgery. Currently, numerous cases of ASH have been reported since the spread of ultrasonography [
A 52-year-old man visited urology department with right scrotal swelling for the past 6 months. He was undergoing a regular medical check-up at the department of gastroenterology for liver cirrhosis (LC). The recent increase in mass size was the drawback of manual reduction of palpable inguinoscrotal mass. The incarcerated inguinal hernia was suspected, and an abdomen CT scan was performed (
Physical examination revealed continual non-transilluminant, very large, and tense right scrotal swelling in the lower abdomen. The right testis could not be palpated separately from the swelling. There was a tense, cystic hypogastric lump that had cross fluctuation with the inguinoscrotal hydrocele.
The clinical diagnosis of the ASH was made and confirmed by a CT scan. Contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen and pelvis showed a well-defined lower abdominal cyst extending into the scrotum through the inguinal canal (
The surgical excision was recommended and inguinal exploration was performed under general anesthesia. Through an inguinoscrotal incision, the cyst was decompressed, and the abdominal component was dissected free from the retroperitoneum through the widened deep ring. The inguinoscrotal component was completely excised along with cord structures although there was some adhesion to the surrounding tissues. The spermatic cord and testis were normal. Tension-free anterior inguinal repair was performed with a polypropylene mesh, taking into account the slack fascia transversalis and the weakened deep inguinal ring.
Our study was approved by the Soonchunhyang University Hospital Institutional Review Board (IRB approval no., 2020-10-014). The patient has provided informed consent for publication of the case.
ASH is a hydrocele that forms two interconnected sacs filled with fluid in the scrotal and abdominal cavity. It often begins with an inguinoscrotal hydrocele that extends into the abdomen at birth. It is sometimes found and diagnosed after the patient becomes an adult [
Since its introduction, reports of ASH have increased in the literature with an increase in awareness about the disease and wide-spread application of ultrasonography [
Various theories about the etiology of ASH have been suggested, but are not yet fully understood. The three most commonly proposed theories are as follows: (1) cephalad extension of simple hydrocele by increasing intra-hydrocele pressure, (2) high extinction of patent processus vaginalis (PPV), and (3) PPV acting as a one-way valve with a cephalad extension of the hydrocele [
In this case, the progress of ASH was confirmed based on an increase in the frequency of advanced imaging and clinical observation. The ilioinguinal hydrocele was first observed on physical examination and initially, abdominal expansion was not confirmed on CT. The causes of primary hydrocele are lymphatic hypoplasia, lymphatic obstruction (secondary to the presence of inguinal hernia, minor trauma, chronic epididymitis, filaria worms, or a high-ligature operation for varicocele). In addition, imbalance between the rate of exudation of fluid in the tunica vaginalis and its absorption are the cause of hydrocele [
We found that the progress from simple inguinoscrotal hydrocele to ASH with serial CT scans. These observations can be the actual mechanism behind ASH development and support the Dupuytren’s theory (cephalad extension of simple hydrocele).
No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.
This research was supported by the Soonchunhyang University Research Fund.
(A) Computed tomography shows the right inguinoscrotal hydrocele. (B) There was no abdominal component.
Computed tomography after 1 year. (A) The scan shows the abdominal component of the abdominoscrotal hydrocele. (B) The coronal image demonstrates an hourglass-shaped abdominoscrotal hydrocele.