Filariasis: an emergent cause of acute scrotal pain.
A 25-year-old man from Bangla Desh with acute right scrotal pain was subjected to scrotal surgical exploration because of the suspicion of testicular torsion. The testicle appeared normally positioned; an epididymal nodule was removed, and pathology showed the presence of the filaria worm. Filariasis is a tropical disease which has been estimated to affect 120 millions people throughout the world. Lymphadenitis and lymphangitis are the more common clinical settings; in men, there is a frequent scrotal involvement. In some cases, acute scrotal pain may lead to the suspicion of testicular torsion. The observation of patients with genital filariasis is likely to become more frequent in an era of massive immigration from different countries; nowadays, the disease should always be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis in patients with acute scrotal pain coming from tropical areas.
Di Tonno
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F
Division of Urology, Ospedale dell'Angelo Hospital, Mestre-Venezia -Italy. Fulvioditonno@libero.it
Mazzariol
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C
Piazza
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N
Murer
B
B
D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000208:ethnology; D004822:Epididymis / Q000469:parasitology*; D004823:Epididymitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D005368:Filariasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D012611:Scrotum / Q000601:surgery; D013086:Spermatic Cord Torsion / Q000175:diagnosis; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures