Spermatocele

A cystic dilation of the EPIDIDYMIS, usually in the head portion (caput epididymis). The cyst fluid contains dead SPERMATOZOA and can be easily differentiated from TESTICULAR HYDROCELE and other testicular lesions.

Also Known As:

Cyst, Epididymal; Cysts, Epididymal; Epididymal Cysts; Spermatoceles; Epididymal Cyst

Networked: 109 relevant articles (7 outcomes, 8 trials/studies)

Relationship Network

Disease Context: Research Results

Related Diseases

1.	Testicular Hydrocele
2.	Spermatocele
3.	Necrosis
4.	46,XY Disorder of Sex Development (Male Pseudohermaphroditism)
5.	Oligospermia (Oligozoospermia)

Experts

1.	Bajic, Petar: 1 article (01/2022)
2.	Brockman, Scott: 1 article (01/2022)
3.	Levine, Laurence A: 1 article (01/2022)
4.	Roadman, Daniel: 1 article (01/2022)
5.	Chan, Calvin Ky: 1 article (11/2020)
6.	Chau, Lysander H: 1 article (11/2020)
7.	Chu, Peggy Sk: 1 article (11/2020)
8.	Lee, Y K: 1 article (11/2020)
9.	Man, C W: 1 article (11/2020)
10.	Yeung, Andrew Mh: 1 article (11/2020)

Drugs and Biologics

Drugs and Important Biological Agents (IBA) related to Spermatocele:

1.	Polidocanol (Laureth)FDA Link 10/01/2011 - "Polidocanol sclerotherapy was effective for the treatment of hydrocele or spermatocele in our patients, with 94% satisfactory results after 1 to 4 treatments. " 10/01/2011 - "A randomized trial comparing 2 doses of polidocanol sclerotherapy for hydrocele or spermatocele." 10/01/2011 - "From 1993 to 2005 a double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted using 2 or 4 ml polidocanol (30 mg/ml) for sclerotherapy of hydrocele/spermatocele in 224 evaluable patients at 3 university hospitals. " 10/01/2011 - "We compared the efficacy and morbidity of 2 or 4 ml polidocanol sclerotherapy for hydrocele or spermatocele. " 10/01/2011 - "Polidocanol sclerotherapy for hydrocele or spermatocele combines high efficiency with low morbidity, but the optimal dose is not known. "
2.	Tetracycline (Achromycin)FDA LinkGeneric 06/01/1990 - "Fourty patients with 32 hydroceles and 11 epididymal cysts were treated by aspiration and instillation of tetracycline. " 04/01/1987 - "Tetracycline sclerotherapy is a safe and effective alternative to surgery for hydroceles and epididymal cysts in older patients." 10/30/1991 - "[Tetracycline sclerotherapy of hydroceles and spermatoceles]." 06/01/1990 - "Tetracycline sclerotherapy of hydroceles and epididymal cysts. " 05/20/1988 - "[Tetracycline sclerotherapy in hydrocele and epididymal cysts]."
3.	Sclerosing Solutions (Sclerosing Agents)IBA 06/01/1992 - "Of the hydroceles 98% were cured completely and 68% were cured after only 1 sclerosant instillation, while 60% of the spermatoceles resolved completely and 33% partially, with 7% failures. " 01/19/1980 - "Sclerosant treatment for hydroceles and epididymal cysts." 09/22/1979 - "Sclerosant treatment for hydroceles and epididymal cysts." 02/01/1983 - "Sclerosant therapy for hydroceles and epididymal cysts." 10/20/1993 - "Treatment of hydroceles and spermatoceles with evacuation, followed by injection of the sclerosing agent Polidocanol 3% (Aetoxysklerol), is a simple, low cost alternative to surgery. "
4.	ethanolamine oleate (Ethamolin)FDA Link 01/01/1986 - "Seventeen patients with hydroceles or epididymal cysts were treated by tapping and injection with ethanolamine oleate. " 01/01/1993 - "Ethanolamine oleate sclerotherapy can be recommended as an alternative treatment to surgery, especially in older patients with spermatoceles consisting of 1-3 chambers." 01/01/1993 - "We examine here the efficacy and safety of ethanolamine oleate sclerotherapy in cases of spermatocele using ultrasound (US) before treatment and during follow-up. " 01/01/1993 - "Ultrasound follow-up of ethanolamine oleate sclerotherapy for spermatoceles." 06/01/1992 - "Sclerotherapy with 5% ethanolamine oleate was used to treat 102 hydroceles in 100 patients and 63 spermatoceles in 58 patients. "
5.	PercollIBA 02/01/2003 - "The average sperm motility and average percent viability of sperm recovered after Percoll gradient improved compared with sperm in the initial spermatocele aspirates (motility 5%, range 0% to 25% and viability 36%, range 2% to 91% before Percoll vs. motility 13%, range 2% to 38% and viability 39%, range 10% to 92% after Percoll). "
6.	Phenol (Carbolic Acid)FDA Link 07/01/1992 - "Sclerotherapy with aqueous phenol for outpatient treatment of hydrocoele and epididymal cysts." 12/01/2007 - "Sclerotherapy of idiopathic hydroceles and epididymal cysts: a historical comparison trial of 5% phenol versus tetracycline."
7.	CateninsIBA 09/14/2010 - "These studies suggest that dysregulated Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the MD mesenchyme might also be a contributing factor in persistent Müllerian duct syndrome, a form of male pseudohermaphroditism, and development of spermatoceles."
8.	Interleukin-8 (Interleukin 8)IBA 04/01/2002 - "Both IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations in the spermatocele group were higher than in the epididymal cyst group (P < 0.0001). " 04/01/2002 - "The aim of the study was to determine the cellular contents and concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in fluids of patients with spermatocele or epididymal cyst. " 04/01/2002 - "The concentrations (mean+/- SEM, pg/mg protein) of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha were 13.52 +/- 1.40, 22.20 +/- 2.43, 3.51 +/- 1.43 in spermatocele fluids and 5.76 +/- 0.48, 11.57 +/- 1.89, 2.53 +/- 0.41 in epididymal cyst fluids. "
9.	Interleukin-6 (Interleukin 6)IBA 04/01/2002 - "Both IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations in the spermatocele group were higher than in the epididymal cyst group (P < 0.0001). " 04/01/2002 - "The aim of the study was to determine the cellular contents and concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in fluids of patients with spermatocele or epididymal cyst. " 04/01/2002 - "The concentrations (mean+/- SEM, pg/mg protein) of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha were 13.52 +/- 1.40, 22.20 +/- 2.43, 3.51 +/- 1.43 in spermatocele fluids and 5.76 +/- 0.48, 11.57 +/- 1.89, 2.53 +/- 0.41 in epididymal cyst fluids. "
10.	Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (Tumor Necrosis Factor)IBA 04/01/2002 - "The aim of the study was to determine the cellular contents and concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in fluids of patients with spermatocele or epididymal cyst. " 04/01/2002 - "The concentrations (mean+/- SEM, pg/mg protein) of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha were 13.52 +/- 1.40, 22.20 +/- 2.43, 3.51 +/- 1.43 in spermatocele fluids and 5.76 +/- 0.48, 11.57 +/- 1.89, 2.53 +/- 0.41 in epididymal cyst fluids. "

Therapies and Procedures

1.	Sclerotherapy 05/01/2003 - "Percutaneous sclerotherapy is a valid therapeutic alternative to surgery in the management of epididymal cysts: it is safe, effective, free of complications, less costly and shows good results in the follow-up." 04/01/1979 - "A prospective study was carried out on the efficacy of sclerotherapy for the treatment of hydrocoeles and epididymal cysts. " 06/02/1984 - "Sclerotherapy for hydrocele and epididymal cysts: a five year study." 01/01/2022 - "To describe our contemporary experience with aspiration and sclerotherapy (AS) as a non-surgical alternative for patients with symptomatic hydrocele and spermatocele who prefer non-surgical treatment. " 01/01/2022 - "Aspiration and Sclerotherapy: A Minimally Invasive Treatment for Hydroceles and Spermatoceles."
2.	Prostheses and Implants (Prosthesis) 01/01/1982 - "Experimental studies on the functional capacity of the alloplastic spermatocele (Kelâmi-Affeld prosthesis)." 08/01/1986 - "Thus, poor or absent sperm motility in the epididymal fluid during planned alloplastic spermatocele implantation predicts a poor postoperative result and, therefore, contraindicates implantation of the prosthesis. " 05/01/1983 - "An artificial spermatocele is prepared by resection of the vas slightly distal to the epididymal-deferential ansa and anastomosing onto its proximal stump a piece of Dardik's prosthesis sealed at the far end. " 07/01/1986 - "Implantation of artificial spermatocele with cup-shaped prosthesis for excretory azoospermia and chemical management of aspirated spermatozoa." 05/01/1986 - "Spermatozoa from a patient with an artificial spermatocele (Dardik's prosthesis) implanted onto the vas deferens were found to have high levels of IgG/IgA antibodies absorbed on their surfaces (MAR-test). "
3.	Vasectomy (Vas Occlusion) 05/01/2014 - "All three treatment options (hydrocelectomy, spermatocele resection, and vasectomy) may be accompanied by fertility preservation procedures (e.g., cryopreservation of semen prior to surgery). " 05/01/2014 - "[Hydrocele, spermatocele, and vasectomy: management of complications]." 10/01/2011 - "There was no significant difference in the presence of epididymal cysts in the patients who had undergone vasectomy compared to those who had not (P = .34), including 30 of 56 postvasectomy patients (53.6%) and 154 of 289 patients without vasectomy (53.3%). " 08/01/2002 - "The interval since vasectomy did not affect PESA retrieval rates but there was a significantly poorer retrieval rate for PESA in the presence of palpable epididymal cysts, at seven of 35 (20%) vs 12 of 23 (52%) (P=0.012). " 10/01/1994 - " It was concluded that the bilateral spermatocele was induced by prolonged increased pressure in the intraepididymal duct due to increased sexual activity over a long period of time following vasectomy."
4.	Therapeutics 07/01/2008 - "We conclude that although the method of choice for fertility in BVA in artificial reproductive therapy era is percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), but when the sophisticated facilities are not available or cost-effectiveness is matter of concern, alloplastic spermatocele from tunica vaginalis and IUI may be a viable option." 02/01/1983 - "Sclerosant therapy for hydroceles and epididymal cysts." 06/01/1992 - "Ethanolamine oleate sclerotherapy is a safe, effective and economical form of outpatient therapy that can be recommended as primary treatment for hydroceles in adults and as an alternative to surgery for spermatoceles with 1 to 3 cysts in elderly men in whom fertility is not important." 05/01/2003 - "Polidocanol, widely used on varicose vein therapies for its local anaesthetic properties, is the ideal sclerosing agent for superficial and delicate structures, such as epididymal cysts. "
5.	Herniorrhaphy 12/01/1985 - "To perform AIH, an artificial spermatocele was inserted into the epididymis for obstructive azoospermia (probably caused by congenital defect of the spermiduct on one side and by accidental vasosection in hernioplasty on the other). " 05/01/2017 - "A broad differential diagnosis of chronic orchialgia includes epididymitis, testicular torsion, tumors, obstruction, varicocele, epididymal cysts, hydrocele, iatrogenic injury following vasectomy or hernia repair, and referred pain from a variety of sources including mid-ureteral stone, indirect inguinal hernia, aortic or common iliac artery aneurysms, lower back disorders, interstitial cystitis, and nerve entrapment due to perineural fibrosis; approximately 25-50% of chronic orchialgia is idiopathic in nature. " 12/01/2015 - "Smoking, alcohol intake, herniorrhaphy, an epididymal cyst, medication and illicit drugs were not associated with any significant semen variables, testicular volume or circulating reproductive hormones. "