title: Simple intratesticular cysts in children: preoperative sonographic diagnosis and histological correlation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Simple intratesticular cysts are rare in children and have been considered the most uncommon cause of scrotal cystic masses in this age group. The exact etiology of these lesions is still unclear. High-resolution ultrasonography has been proved to be a reliable and accurate imaging modality in the evaluation of scrotal abnormalities in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the sonographic findings in five boys aged from 4 to 10 months who presented with a scrotal mass and had a simple intratesticular cyst. Ultrasonography showed that all of them displayed a characteristic appearance and provided the necessary information to perform conservative surgery, with testicular preservation in four infants. In one infant, the cyst involved most of the testis, and an orchiectomy was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pathological examination revealed a single smooth-walled cystic structure, with clear and serous fluid, lined with flattened epithelial cells in all of the infants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings appear to support the hypothesis that these cysts could correspond to mesothelial inclusions. Sonographically, differential diagnosis should include mainly epidermoid cysts of the testis, which are mostly cystic but characteristically contain some echoes within them, in contrast to simple cysts and cysts of the tunica albuginea, which lie outside the testicular parenchyma.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínico Universidad Católica, Departamentos de Radiologia, Cirurgia y Anatomia Patológica Marcoleta 367, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zúñiga
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Arce
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zúñiga
mesh_terms: D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography