Epididymal cysts in adolescents]

Epididymal tumours are uncommon in children and adolescents and are usually benign. Epididymal cyst is exceptionally reported in the literature, although it is certainly underdiagnosed. The authors report 3 cases of epididymal 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 cyst in every case. The aetiology of epididymal cysts is unclear. It is probably a congenital abnormality related to hormonal disorders during embryonic life. Physical examination is very important, but not sufficient for the diagnosis and must be completed by scrotal ultrasonography, which shows an echo-free cystic epididymal structure. Despite ultrasonography, the differential diagnosis of other scrotal cystic masses and even some solid epididymal tumours, which may present all of the sonographic characteristics of a cyst, must be considered. The treatment of symptomatic epididymal cyst in children must be surgical. For asymptomatic cysts diagnosed by sonography, clinical follow-up to document stability of the mass is justified.