Epidermoid Cysts of the Testes in Taiwanese Men

Abstract

Epidermoid cyst is a rare benign tumor of the testes. The records from the last 20 years of Taiwanese patients in whom a testicular tumor was diagnosed were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with a confirmed epidermoid cyst of testis were evaluated for age, clinical assessment and follow-up. Among a total 146 testicular tumors, 28 (19%) patients had a benign tumor including 15 patients (10%; mean age 23 years, range 17-32 years) with an epidermoid cyst diagnosed pathologically. Pre-operative suspicion of the benign nature of the lesions was supported by testicular ultrasonography in 11 patients. Seven patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging after which benign epidermoid cyst was impressed in five patients. A testicular-sparing operation was performed in 12 patients after frozen sections confirmed the diagnosis. Three patients were treated by radical orchiectomy. There was no relapse after a median follow-up of 42 months (range, 2-82 months). Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging of the scrotum may allow the diagnosis of epidermoid cyst of the testes to be made pre-operatively. The absence of relapse in these patients further supports the use of organ sparing surgery in these young men.

Testicular epidermoid cysts: a reevaluation

“…As shown herein, TECs account for only 1.5% of all testicular neoplasms among post-pubertal men. This figure corresponds well with the 2.1% frequency reported previously [4, 5, 7] but it is clearly lower than the 10% relative incidence reported in a series from Taiwan [8]. Ethnic predisposition may account for that striking difference.…”

“…The typical onion-ring phenomenon is present in about 60% of all cases [12, 13]. The cyst-like appearance and the roundish configuration are further typical findings of the present and previous series [8, 14, 15]. A more distinctive finding is the absence of vascularization of the cyst core documented with CCDS (colour-coded duplex sonography) and CEUS as shown in four of our cases and previously reported by others [16].…”

Clinical Perspectives of Scrotal Ultrasound in Urology

“…Epidermoid cysts usually grow slowly and seldom cause pain. The characteristics of ultrasonography of an epidermoid cyst are a well-circumscribed lesion with a solid central core surrounded by an echogenic rim(s), which sometimes resemble a hollow target or layers of an onion (Meng et al, 2004). Recently magnetic resonance imaging has also played a role in this diagnosis of epidermoid cysts.…”