ACUTE EPIDIDYMITIS IN PEDIATRIC-PATIENTS

Twenty-eight pediatric cases of acute epididymitis (AE) managed over t he last ten years are reported. After exclusion of acute post-traumati c scrotal swelling, idiopathic scrotal edema, and processus vaginalis abnormalities, acute unilateral scrotal disorders seen during the stud y period were distributed as follows: torsion of an appendage, 63%; pe rinatal torsion of the spermatic cord, 5%; torsion of the testis, 25%; and AE, 7%. The role and value of diagnostic investigations in AE are discussed. Urine cultures should be performed routinely. Surgery was required in one-third of confirmed cases. Sixteen patients had a uroge nital tract abnormality that was either known prior to the episode of AE or discovered during the work-up routinely performed in this condit ion (renal ultrasonography or intravenous urography and urethrocystogr aphy). Residual lesions should be evaluated over the long term.