Testicular Pain
Disorders
Testicular Trauma
Testicular Torsion
Testicular Cancer
Epispadias
Hypospadias
Testicular Torsion
Testicular torsion is the twisting of the spermatic cord, which cuts off the blood supply to the testicle and surrounding structures within the scrotum.
Causes
Some men may be predisposed to testicular torsion as a result of inadequate connective tissue within the scrotum. However, the condition can result from trauma to the scrotum, particularly if significant swelling occurs. It may also occur after strenuous exercise or may not have an obvious cause.
The condition is more common during infancy (first year of life) and at the beginning of adolescence (puberty).
Symptoms
Sudden onset of severe pain in one testicle,
with or without a previous predisposing event
Swelling within one side of the scrotum (scrotal swelling)
Nausea or vomiting
Light-headedness
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:
Testicle lump
Blood in the semen
Treatment
Surgery is usually required and should be performed as soon as possible after symptoms begin. If surgery is performed within 6 hours, most testicles can be saved.
During surgery, the testicle on the other (non-affected) side is usually also anchored as a preventive measure. This is because the non-affected testicle is at risk of testicular torsion in the future.
TESTICULAR CANCER
Causes
The exact cause of testicular cancer is unknown. However, several factors seem to increase a man’s risk for the condition. They include:
Abnormal testicle development
History of undescended testicle(s)
History of testicular cancer
Klinefelter syndrome
Other factors under investigation as possible causes include exposure to certain chemicals and HIV infection. A family history of testicular cancer may also increase risk.
There is no link between vasectomy and testicular cancer.
Testicular cancer accounts for only 1% of all cancers in men in the U.S., but is the most common form of cancer in men age 15 – 40. In rare cases, it may occur at a younger age.
White men are five times more likely to develop this type of cancer than African Americans. White men are twice as likely as Asian-American men to have testicular cancer.
There are two main types of testicular cancer: Seminomas and nonseminomas.
These cancers grow from germ cells, the cells that make sperm.
Seminoma: This is a slow-growing form of testicular cancer usually found in men in their 30s and 40s. The cancer is usually just in the testes. However, it can spread to the lymph nodes.
Nonseminoma: This more common type of testicular cancer tends to grow more quickly than seminomas. Nonseminoma tumors are often made up of different cell types, and are identified according to the cells in which they start to grow. Nonseminoma testicular cancers include:
Choriocarcinoma (rare)
Embryonal carcinoma
Teratoma
Yolk sac tumor
A stromal tumor is a rare type of testicular tumor. Such tumors are usually not cancerous. The two main types of stromal tumors are Leydig cell tumors and Sertoli cell tumors. Leydig cells release the hormone testosterone, and Sertoli cells are where sperm matures. Stromal tumors may be seen during childhood.
Symptoms
Discomfort, pain, in the testicle or a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
Dull ache in the back or lower abdomen
Enlargement of a testicle or a change in the way it feels
Excess development of breast tissue (gynecomastia), but this can also occur normally in adolescent males who do not have testicular cancer
Lump or swelling in either testicle
Symptoms in other parts of the body, such as the lungs, abdomen, pelvis, or brain (if the cancer has spread)
Note: There may be no symptoms.
Exams and Tests
A physical examination typically reveals a firm lump (mass). When the health care provider holds a flashlight up to the scrotum, the light does not pass through the mass.
Other tests include:
Abdominal CT scan
Blood tests for tumor markers: alpha fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta HCG), and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH)
Chest x-ray
Ultrasound of the scrotum
Tissue biopsy is usually done by removing the testicle with surgery and then examining the tissue.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the:
Type of tumor
Stage of the tumor
Extent of the disease
Most patients can be cured.
Once cancer is found, the first step is to determine the type of cancer cell by examining it under a microscope. The cells can be seminoma or nonseminoma. If both seminoma and nonseminoma cells are found in a single tumor, the tumor is treated as a nonseminoma.
The next step is to determine how far the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. This is called “staging.”
Stage I cancer has not spread beyond the testicle.
Stage II cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the abdomen.
Stage III cancer has spread beyond the lymph nodes (it could be as far as the liver or lungs).
Three types of treatment can be used.
Surgical treatment removes the testicle (orchiectomy) and associated lymph nodes (lymphadenectomy). This is usually performed in the case of both seminoma and nonseminomas.
Radiation therapy using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays may be used after surgery to prevent the tumor from returning. Radiation therapy is usually only used for treating seminomas.
Chemotherapy uses drugs such as cisplatin, bleomycin, and etoposide to kill cancer cells. This treatment has greatly improved survival for patients with both seminomas and nonseminomas.
Possible Complications
Testicular cancer may spread to other parts of the body. The most common sites include the:
Abdomen
Lungs
Retroperitoneal area (the area near the kidneys)
Spine
Complications of surgery can include:
Infertility (if both testicles are removed)
Damage to nerves that control erection, leading to impotence
Prevention
There is no known effective screening technique for testicular cancer. However, a testicular self-examination (TSE) performed on a monthly basis may help in detecting such cancer at an early stage, before it spreads. Finding it early is important to successful treatment and survival. Young men are often taught how to perform such exams shortly after puberty.
