Tension Hydrocele—How Point-of-care Ultrasound Helps in the Emergency Department: A Case Report
Sophia Potalivo, Sophia Fornbacher, Joey Abadilla, Ron Goubert, Eva Tovar Hirashima · 2026
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Description
Potalivo and colleagues reported a 2026 emergency department case in which ultrasound revealed a tension hydrocele. A tension hydrocele is a fluid sac around the testicle grown large enough to squeeze off its blood supply. A 57-year-old man arrived with right scrotal swelling. ultrasound, scanning done by the treating clinician at the bedside, showed a large hydrocele with reduced blood flow inside the testicle, a pattern that threatens the organ's survival.
Potalivo describes how the emergency physician drained the fluid with a needle under ultrasound guidance, after which the man's symptoms resolved and normal testicular blood flow returned on repeat scanning. The authors present the drainage as a potentially testicle-saving measure when urology help is delayed. They present the case as the first report of ultrasound-guided aspiration for this condition, widening the list of causes emergency clinicians should consider in sudden scrotal pain.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Sophia Potalivo, Sophia Fornbacher, Joey Abadilla, Ron Goubert, Eva Tovar Hirashima |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 10 KB |
| LICENSE | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |