Hydrocele of Spermatic Cord

  • Etiology: aberrant closure of the processus vaginalis
  • Imaging:
    — Encysted hydrocele – fluid collection does not communicate with peritoneum above or tunica vaginalis below
    — Funicular hydrocele – fluid collection communicates with peritoneum at internal inguinal ring but does not communicate with tunica vaginalis below
  • DDX: hydrocele of the canal of Nuck in females
  • Clinical: found in males

Radiology Cases of Encysted Hydrocele of Spermatic Cord

US of spermatic cord hydrocele
Sagittal US of the right inguinal canal and scrotum shows an oval anechoic fluid collection in the inguinal canal that did not communicate with the peritoneum (to the left) and a small amount of anechoic fluid around the right testicle.