Epididymil cysts in adolescents.

Epididymal tumours are uncommon in children and adolescents and are usually benign. Epididymal cyst is exceptionally reported in the literature, altho ugh. it is certainly underdiagnosed. The authors report 3 cases of epididym al cyst in 3 children, 12, 14 and 16 years of age. These children presented with an uncomfortable scrotal mass and were treated by excision of the cys t in every case. The aetiology of epididymal cysts is unclear. It is probab ly a congenital abnormality related to hormonal disorders during embryonic life. Physical examination is very important, but not sufficient for the di agnosis and must be completed by scrotal ultrasonography, which shows an ec ho-free cystic epididymal structure. Despite ultrasonography, the different ial diagnosis of other scrotal cystic masses and ew en some solid epididyma l tumours, which may present all of the sonographic characteristics of a cy st,must be considered. The treatment of symptomatic epididymal cysts in chi ldren must be surgical. For asymptomatic cysts diagnosed by sonography, cli nical follow-up to document stability of the mass is justified.