PNEUMOSCROTUM

Pneumoscrotum is a rare condition that receives little discussion in s tandard texts of urology. The variety of possible etiologies for this condition include air accumulation from lung or retroperitoneal source s, surgical manipulations, or infection with gas-producing organisms. We report the case of a 79-year-old patient with pneumoscrotum who pre sented to the emergency department complaining of a swollen scrotum. A lthough Fournier's gangrene was suspected and the patient was taken to surgery, a small right apical pneumothorax that was not appreciated b efore surgery later was determined to have caused the pneumoscrotum. T he process by which air may accumulate in the scrotum as well as diffe rential diagnosis and treatment are discussed.