Testicular Emergencies - Essay Example

"Testicular Emergencies" is a great example of a paper on cancer and men.
When did you notice the lump, and have you had a previous history which relates to any such lump?

Is the scrotum lump painful or painless? If the lump is painful, does the pain start abruptly or does the pain gradually increase on exertion? (To rule out testicular torsion or testicular cancer)

Did the child previously suffer from any type of urinary tract infections? If yes, was it treated previously? (To rule out epididymal-orchitis and scrotal abscess)

Is there a history of trauma of the testis previously? If yes, how severe was the trauma? (To rule out scrotal hematoma)

Is the texture of the scrotum hard or soft, i.e., can fluid be felt in the scrotum? (To rule out cancer or hydrocele)

Did you previously suffer from groin pain or problems in micturition?

Are the veins edematous or not? (To rule out varicocele) (Bromby & Creswell, 2014; Marzouk, Alyami, F., Merrimen, J., & Bagnell, 2014)

Did anyone in the family previously suffer from testicular carcinoma?

Physical Findings

The scrotum can be examined to find out the consistency of the lump along with its texture. The patient can be asked if the scrotum is tender or not. The site and size of the lump can also be examined to confirm if the child is suffering from any type of hernia. Lastly, the transilluminescence of the lump can also be examined so as to confirm the diagnosis of a hydrocele (Bromby & Cresswell 2014).

Diagnostic Testing

The testicular veins can be examined to check if they are tortuous enough to rule out varicocele. Ultrasound is a modality that can be used to diagnose testicular cancers and varicocele. Doppler Ultrasound is specifically used to diagnose varicocele. Computed tomography can also be carried out to rule out testicular cancers (Bromby & Cresswell 2014).

Diagnosis and Plan of Care

The child is not suffering from any pain or discomfort except for the lump. The most probable diagnosis for the child can be varicocele, as it is commonly found amongst the children of this age. To further confirm the diagnosis of varicocele, the scrotum should be examined to find tortuous dilations. It can be confirmed by carrying out an ultrasound, which would easily show the tortuous dilation of the veins. The treatment of varicocele can be done in two ways which relate to surgery or radiological intervention. Surgical intervention can be performed through different approaches including retroperitoneal, inguinal, subinguinal, or laparoscopic. Surgical intervention is found to have a low rate of recurrence in the patients and is hence preferred. It becomes necessary to prepare the child for surgery by giving him antibiotics to avoid any secondary infection. The child should be kept under strict observation before he is discharged from the hospital (Goel, Pathak, & Abid, 2013).