title: Comparative study of sclerotherapy with phenol and surgical treatment for hydrocele.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared the efficiency, side effects and effects on spermatogenesis of sclerotherapy with phenol and surgical treatment for hydrocele.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 67 patients (80 hydroceles) were randomly divided into 2 groups of 40 hydroceles each. One group underwent phenol sclerotherapy and the other underwent hydrocelectomy. Spermiograms were done before, 6 and 12 months after treatment in patients able to ejaculate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the sclerotherapy group 47.5%, 30%, 12.5%, 5% and 2.5% of the hydroceles were cured with 1 to 5 injections, respectively, but 2.5% were not cured even with 6 injections. There were no complaints of localized pain or infection in these cases. All patients returned to normal activity on the same day. In the hydrocelectomy group 97.5% and 2.5% of hydroceles were cured with 1 and 2 operations, respectively. There was pain postoperatively in 73.5% of the patients and localized infection in 5%, while 62.5% required an average of 4.5 days of rest and were absent from work for 10 days. There was no significant statistical alteration in spermatozoid concentration in the preoperative, and 6 and 12-month postoperative counts in the groups (p = 0.385).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sclerotherapy for hydrocele with phenol is as efficacious as hydrocelectomy, while causing less morbidity and similar effects on spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Hospital das Clínicas, Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Chen Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Antonio Marmo
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lucon
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arap
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019800:Phenol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013076:Sperm Count; D006848:Testicular Hydrocele / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013737:Testis / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D019800:Phenol