Abdominoscrotal hydrocele in childhood: Is it really a rare entity?

Objectives. Abdominoscrotal hydrocele (ASH) is an apparently highly uncommo n clinical entity especially in childhood, with only about 80 pediatric cas es reported in the modern literature. Methods. The incidence, diagnosis, and treatment of ASH are discussed with reference to 9 cases observed at our institution and to cases in the litera ture. Results. Surgical correction was successful in all our cases and no hydroce le or hernia recurrence was registered. Conclusions. ASH incidence appears to be higher than reported; undescended testis is a frequent association and surgical correction through an inguina l approach is always possible and curative. Ligation of the processus vagin alis may prevent recurrence. UROLOGY 56: 1047-1049, 2000. (C) 2000, Elsevie r Science Inc.