Scrotal masses – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

What is meant by scrotal masses?

Scrotal masses can be an accumulation of fluids, the growth of abnormal tissue, or normal contents of the scrotum could be inflamed, swollen or hardened. The scrotum is a sac of the skin that hangs from your body at the front of the pelvis, between the leg, just below penis. The scrotum has the testicles.

Scrotal masses have to be examined by a doctor, even if there are no signs & symptoms like pain. It can be an indication for any serious condition including cancer of the testes .

What are the symptoms of scrotal masses?

Signs and symptoms might include:

Scrotal masses can vary widely in their symptoms according to the underlying disorder. Symptoms of scrotal masses are as follows:

• An unusual lump
• Sudden pain
• A feeling of heaviness in scrotum
• Pain that radiates throughout the lower back, abdomen, or groin 
• Tender, swollen or hardened testicle
• Tender, swollen or hardened epididymis 
• Swelling in the scrotum
• Redness of the skin of the scrotum
• Nausea or vomiting
• Pain that radiates in the groin, back, and abdomen of an individual.
• Unusual lumpiness or a dull ache in the scrotum.

If an individual suffers from scrotal mass due to infection in their scrotal sac, then an individual can have symptoms like 

• Fever and chills
• Frequent urge to urinate.
• Presence of the blood or pus in the urine.

What are the causes of the scrotal masses?

Scrotal mass can be caused by a wide range of disorders affecting the scrotum of the individual, such as

• Orchitis: It is a viral infection caused due to mumps which leads to inflammation of the testicles. 
• Epididymitis: It causes infection in the epididymis and produces inflammation. It is caused by bacteria , especially sexually transmitted infections  like chlamydia. 
• Hydrocele: The increase in fluid around the testicles increases the size of the scrotum sac and results in swelling of the scrotum. 
• Hematocele: It results from any traumatic or prior injury in the testicles that lead to clot formation between the layers of the scrotum surrounding each testicle.
• Spermatocele: It is a painless benign fluid-filled sac in the scrotum, usually above the testicle.
• Varicocele: It is a condition due to enlarged veins within the scrotum .
• Inguinal hernia: Inguinal hernia is a condition in which a part of small intestine pushes through a weak spot or an opening in the tissue separating the abdomen and the groin.
• Testicular torsion: It is a painful condition that involves the twisting of spermatic cord, nerves, the bundle of blood vessels and the tube which carries semen from testicle to the penis. If not treated promptly, this condition cuts off blood to the testicle and can lead to the loss of the testicle. The affected testicle may be enlarged, sideways and higher than normal.
• Testicular cancer: is also usually felt as a non-tender lump in the scrotum. 

When do you need to see a doctor?

Scrotal mass can be a matter of concern for an individual as they can lead to permanent damage to the testicles if proper care is not provided. Seek medical care if a person feels lumpiness or pain in the scrotum. It is commonly found in children. One should visit a doctor if the child’s testicles are in undescended form. 

Apollo Hospitals provides competent care for medical conditions like scrotal masses. Apollo Hospitals has been providing world-class health care  for the last 36 years. 

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What are the preventive measures?

Examine your testicles once a month to keep track of lumpiness or scrotal mass. Moving fingers around the scrotal sac can help you to differentiate between the normal and abnormal conditions of the testicles. Moreover, if an individual has any abnormality, seek medical care early .

What could be a possible treatment procedure?

In case of infection, bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics, while viral infections get treated with rest, ice packs, and painkillers.

In non-cancerous (benign) scrotal mass, the tumor is left untreated or surgically removed. 

The primary treatment for testicular cancer is radical inguinal orchiectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the affected testicle and spermatic cord via a cut/incision in the groin. Lymph nodes in the abdomen might also be removed if the cancer has spread to them. Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy might also be used.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Will scrotal masses lead to infertility?

Generally, it doesn’t lead to infertility. However, scrotal mass might result in infertility if due to undescended testes or varicoceles.

Is the scrotal mass disease contagious?

All Scrotal masses are not contagious; however, if the cause is a sexually transmitted infection , it may be contagious .

Is scrotal mass formation an emergency?

Scrotal masses are not always emergencies. However, it might become an emergency in testicular torsion. The individual might lose his testicles if treatment is late.