[Adenomatoid tumor of the epididymis. Ultrasonographic diagnosis and review of the literature].
Epididymal adenomatoid tumor is a rare genital neoplasm of mesotelial origin.


OBJECTIVE
In our work we show our experience about three cases of epididymal adenomatoid tumor we observed in four years. We describe our clinical experience in which these cases seem to be peculiar for clinical insurgence and localization, mainly, in our clinical report, on the head of epididymis. A review of few cases reported in literature is presented above.


METHODS
In a period of four years we evaluated more than 600 scrotal echoes. Ultrasound sonography was performed by a 5.5-7.5 double scanned MHz probe.


RESULTS
USS of the scrotum revealed, in two cases, an anechoid-hypoechoid mass, localized on the epididymal tail. One patient was admitted to the hospital with clinical symptoms of acute torsion of the testis, but no torsion was found at surgical examination. The gross examination, in every cases, showed a nodular, tight, encapsulated mass, with yellowish and homogeneous cut surface.


CONCLUSIONS
Epididymal adenomatoid tumor is a rather rare form of benign neoplasm of genitalia. This is deducted from the rare cases reported in the literature. The origin of that neoplasm is controversial. The main hypothesis is, nowadays, that these tumors could arise from mesemchima. Epididymal adenomatoid tumor is a neoplasm mostly reported in young patients. USS is always of main importance to permit a pre-operatory differential diagnosis with malignant tumors of the testis. It shows, in facts, characteristical echo patterns that permitted, in all cases, a conservative surgery, with direct access through the scrotum.


CONCLUSIONS
Our experience shows the mainly importance of USS in differential diagnosis between scrotal masses. Characteristic echo pattern permits overall sure rapid surgical access and a conservative approach.
Silvani
Mauro
M
Divisione di Urologia ASL 14 Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Ospedale San Biagio, Domodossola. dr.silvani@libero.it
Bossola
Pia Carla
PC
Pagani
Giovanni
G
Minocci
Danilo
D
D000328:Adult; D004822:Epididymis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013724:Teratoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography