EPIDERMOID CYSTS OF THE TESTIS - ORGAN-PRESERVING SURGERY FOLLOWING DIAGNOSIS BY ULTRASONOGRAPHY

Epidermoid cysts of the testes are rare, benign tumours that can be vi sualised by high frequency ultrasonographic transducers. Their echo pa tterns are characteristic but not pathognomonic, so that inguinal expo sure of the testis is required to confirm the diagnosis. However, sono graphy facilitates the planning of surgery, since excision of the tumo ur can be performed in an organ-preserving manner. In 6 patients with epidermoid cysts treated in this way between 1986 and 1989, no recurre nce was seen during a mean follow-up period of 37 months.