1. Testicular Pain in Adolescent Males
Allison Eliscu, MD, FAAP
Rev. Aug 2012

2. Testicular Torsion 2

3. Testicular Torsion – The Basics
True Urologic Emergency
Occurs in 1/4000 males
Typically <25 years old (mostly 12-18yo)
92-96% with no prior trauma or recent intense activity
50% with prior transient torsion/detorsion
Usually caused by bell-clapper deformity
Anomaly whereby testicle is not fixed to scrotum 3

4. Pathogenesis of Testicular Torsion
Twisting of testicle around spermatic cord ↓
Venous drainage hindered
Venous pressure rises
Venous pressure equalizes arterial pressure
Compromised arterial flow
Testicular ischemia
**This slide best viewed in slide show format
Torsion is the twisting of the testicle, usually around the spermatic cord within the tunica vaginalis caused by the bell-clapper deformity – improper fixation of the testis. This initially causes a block in the venous drainage causing swelling and bluish coloration. After some time, the arterial and venous pressure equalize at which point the arterial flow is also compromised. This leads to testicular ischemia and necrosis if not corrected.
Note the horizontal lie, elevation,
and edema of the affected testicle
This slide best viewed in slide show format 4

5. Symptoms of Torsion Acute onset of testicular pain
Pain is severe and constant
May be associated with recent trauma or vigorous activity
Associated Sxs:
Nausea/vomiting (20-30%)
Abdominal pain (20-30%)
Fever (16%)
Urinary frequency (4%) 5

6. Testicular Torsion - Examination
Unilateral swelling
Erythema or darkening of testicle
Loss of rugae on affected side
Elevated testicle
Horizontal lie (compared to normal vertical lie)
Pain and tenderness of testicle
Unilateral loss of cremasteric reflex
No relief of pain with elevation of testicle
Negative Prehn Sign

7. Diagnosis of Testicular Torsion
Clinical suspicion based on history and physical
Clinically evident cases require emergent urology consult
CBC and UA may help narrow differential diagnosis but SHOULD NOT DELAY MANAGEMENT

8. Imaging in the Diagnosis of Torsion
Consider if diagnosis uncertain AND WILL NOT DELAY MANAGEMENT
Doppler Ultrasound – Test of Choice
Check doppler flow to testes
88-100% sensitivity, % specificity
Nuclear Medicine Scintography
100% sensitivity, specificity 89-97%
**Takes much longer, more expensive, harder to read

9. Management of Torsion Manual detorsion (26-80% success)
Should be done by urologist
Patient should be sedated
Most effective before significant edema present
Rotate testicle up and away from midline (twds thigh)
Surgical detorsion with bilateral orchiopexy
Bilaterally correction required since deformity usually bilaterally
Surgical correction required even if manually detorsed
Bell-clapper abnormalities tend to be bilateral 9

10. Prognosis of Torsion
Testicular viability related to time since onset of pain
Within 6 hours – % viable
At 12 hours – 20-50% viable
At 24 hours – 0-10% viable
Do not delay surgery b/c of assumed nonviability based on duration of symptoms 10

11. Epididymitis 11

12. Epididymitis Epidemiology
Incidence 1/1000 men/year
Most common yo males
Risk Factors: STDs, UTIs 12

13. Pathogenesis of Testicular Torsion
Twisting of testicle around spermatic cord ↓
Venous drainage hindered
Venous pressure rises
Venous pressure equalizes arterial pressure
Compromised arterial flow
Testicular ischemia
**This slide best viewed in slide show format
Torsion is the twisting of the testicle, usually around the spermatic cord within the tunica vaginalis caused by the bell-clapper deformity – improper fixation of the testis. This initially causes a block in the venous drainage causing swelling and bluish coloration. After some time, the arterial and venous pressure equalize at which point the arterial flow is also compromised. This leads to testicular ischemia and necrosis if not corrected.
Note the horizontal lie, elevation,
and edema of the affected testicle
This slide best viewed in slide show format 13

14. Management of Epididymitis
Bed Rest with scrotal elevation
NSAIDS for pain control
Empiric treatment with antibiotics
Prepubertal – target UTI organisms
Postpubertal/sexually active – GC/CT
Excellent prognosis with pain relief in 3 days
Prognosis is excellent for epididymitis with full recovery in almost all patients treated properly with pain relief in 1-3 days but it takes about 2 weeks for the exam to return to normal. If untreated, abscess and sepsis may develop. If it develops bilaterally and is untreated or treated late, infertility may occur but this is rare. 14

15. Torsion of Appendix Testis15

16. Torsion of Appendix Testis
Twisting of small vestigial structure on anterosuperior aspect of testis
Most common in 7-13 year old males
Included in the differential diagnosis of acute testicular pain is torsion of the appendix testis. It is much less common in the adolescent male. It is predominantly seen in the prepubescent male. It is more common than testicular torsion with a much better prognosis. The management is supportive care to treat the pain. 16

17. Presentation of Torsed Appendix Testis
History:
Acute unilateral pain, erythema, and swelling
Pain is less severe than torsion
Physical Exam:
Tender focal mass at superior pole of testicle
Blue Dot Sign in 21% of cases (necrotic appendix)
Normal cremasteric reflex
May have reactive hydrocele

18. Diagnosis and Manaagement of Torsed Appendix Testis
Clinical diagnosis
Can get ultrasound to rule-out torsion of testis
Ultrasound may be normal or have increased blood flow to the affected area
Management:
Supportive care
Treat with bed rest, scrotal support, and NSAIDS
Pain resolves in 5-10 days 18

19. Summary of Testicular Pain Most Commonly Affected
Onset Of
Symptoms
Most Commonly Affected
Age
Pain
Location UA
Cremasteric Reflex
Torsion
Acute
Early
Puberty
Diffuse testicular pain
Negative
Appendix
Testis
Subacute
Prepuberty
Localized to upper pole of testicle
Positive
(Intact)
Epididymitis
Gradual
Adolescent
Epididymal (posterior + superior to testis) or 19

20. Immediately call a urology consult
A 13 year old male presents to the emergency room complaining of left testicular pain which woke him from sleep 2 hours ago and has been getting worse. He denies fever, recent trauma, or dysuria and he is not sexually active. On exam, you note significant swelling and bluish discoloration of the left testicle. He won’t let you touch the testicle since it is so tender and you are unable to elicit a cremasteric reflex on that side. The most appropriate next step is to:
Obtain a urinalysis
Obtain a CBC
Immediately call a urology consult
Start antibiotics for a possible infection
Discharge him with NSAIDs for pain and an athletic supporter for sports

21. Immediately call a urology consult
A 13 year old male presents to the emergency room complaining of left testicular pain which woke him from sleep 2 hours ago and has been getting worse. He denies fever, recent trauma, or dysuria and he is not sexually active. On exam, you note significant swelling and bluish discoloration of the left testicle. He won’t let you touch the testicle since it is so tender and you are unable to elicit a cremasteric reflex on that side. The most appropriate next step is to:
Obtain a urinalysis
Obtain a CBC
Immediately call a urology consult
Start antibiotics for a possible infection
Discharge him with NSAIDs for pain and an athletic supporter for sports

22. Answer: C. This patient has testicular torsion until proven otherwise
Answer: C. This patient has testicular torsion until proven otherwise. Acute onset of pain with significant swelling, discoloration, and tenderness along with loss of cremasteric reflex is most consistent with torsion. Urology should be contacted immediately. Since this is an obvious case of torsion, the urologist may defer an ultrasound and take him immediately to the operating room to detorse the testicle. Remember, with torsion, time is of the essence.

23. Minimal swelling of affected testicle
A 15 year old male presents to the emergency room complaining of acute onset testicular pain. You immediately think of testicular torsion as a possible etiology. Which of the following examination signs is most consistent with testicular torsion?
Minimal swelling of affected testicle
Loss of cremasteric reflex on affected side
Mass resembling a bag of worms above the affected testicle
Some relief of pain with elevation of the affected testicle
Vertical lying testicle
Both B & D

24. Minimal swelling of affected testicle
A 15 year old male presents to the emergency room complaining of acute onset testicular pain. You immediately think of testicular torsion as a possible etiology. Which of the following examination signs is most consistent with testicular torsion?
Minimal swelling of affected testicle
Loss of cremasteric reflex on affected side
Mass resembling a bag of worms above the affected testicle
Some relief of pain with elevation of the affected testicle
Vertical lying testicle
Both B & D

25. Answer: B. Testicular torsion is a urological emergency and must be recognized and managed surgically immediately. Any delay in diagnosis or management increases the risk of testicular necrosis. Signs of torsion include unilateral testicular swelling, bluish discoloration, and elevation of the affected testicle. Affected testicles may also lie in a horizontal position (compared to a normal vertical position). Elevating the testicle does not relieve any of the pain (Prehn’s Sign negative); this is compared to patients with epididymitis in whom there is some pain relief with elevation of the affected testicle (positive Prehn’s sign). Loss of cremasteric reflex is one of the most sensitive indicators of torsion. A cremasteric reflex is elicited by stroking the upper thigh and watching the ipsilateral testis. The reflex is intact if the ipsilateral testis elevates. The mass resembling a bag of worms in the spermatic cord (superior to the testicle) is consistent with a varicocele, caused by dilation of the pampiniform plexus. It is a fairly common finding in adolescent males and tends to be asymptomatic.

26. D. Urinary tract infection E. Torsion of the appendix testis
An 18 year old male presents to the office with testicular pain for the past 2 days which has been getting worse. He has no past medical history and reports mild dysuria but no fever, discharge, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. He also denies recent trauma. He is sexually active with multiple female partners and uses condoms most of the time. On exam, you note mild swelling of the left testicle, with no discoloration. Pain is localized to the posterior aspect of the left testicle but is relieved with elevation of the testicle and cremasteric reflex is intact. Which of the following is the most likely etiology for his pain?
A. Chlamydia
B. Testicular torsion
C. Testicular tumor
D. Urinary tract infection
E. Torsion of the appendix testis

27. D. Urinary tract infection E. Torsion of the appendix testis
An 18 year old male presents to the office with testicular pain for the past 2 days which has been getting worse. He has no past medical history and reports mild dysuria but no fever, discharge, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. He also denies recent trauma. He is sexually active with multiple female partners and uses condoms most of the time. On exam, you note mild swelling of the left testicle, with no discoloration. Pain is localized to the posterior aspect of the left testicle but is relieved with elevation of the testicle and cremasteric reflex is intact. Which of the following is the most likely etiology for his pain?
A. Chlamydia
B. Testicular torsion
C. Testicular tumor
D. Urinary tract infection
E. Torsion of the appendix testis

28. Answer: A. This patient has epididymitis which, in sexually active males, is most often caused by Chlamydia. Torsion presents with more acute and more diffuse pain which is not relieved by elevation (Prehn’s sign negative). Patients with torsion usually have unilateral swelling, may have unilateral loss of cremasteric reflex, and may have a bluish discoloration, be elevated above the contralateral testis, and lie horizontally (compared to the normal vertical lie). Dysuria is also not very common in patients with torsion. Torsion is a urological emergency and must be diagnosed and managed immediately. Testicular cancer is usually nontender and asymptomatic. UTIs tend to present with dysuria without testicular pain and it is not common for a male with no past medical history to present with an initial UTI as a teenager. Torsion of the appendix testis usually presents with more acute pain which is localized to the superior pole of the testicle and is not relieved with elevation. On exam, a small blue dot may be present.

29. Discharge him home on bedreset with NSAIDS for pain control
A 20 year old male presents to the emergency room complaining of testicular pain for the past day. He rates it about 5/10 now. He also reports tactile fevers and dysuria but denies discharge. His exam is remarkable for mild swelling of the left testicle and pain localized to the posterior aspect of the testicle. You suspect epididymitis and send him for an ultrasound which supports the diagnosis of epididymitis. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?
Discharge him home on bedreset with NSAIDS for pain control
Give him an ice pack to help with swelling
Send a urine specimen for gonorrhea and chlamydia testing and treat him if the results are positive
Empirically treat him for gonorrhea and chlamydia with doxycycline and ceftriaxone

30. Discharge him home on bedreset with NSAIDS for pain control
A 20 year old male presents to the emergency room complaining of testicular pain for the past day. He rates it about 5/10 now. He also reports tactile fevers and dysuria but denies discharge. His exam is remarkable for mild swelling of the left testicle and pain localized to the posterior aspect of the testicle. You suspect epididymitis and send him for an ultrasound which supports the diagnosis of epididymitis. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?
Discharge him home on bedreset with NSAIDS for pain control
Give him an ice pack to help with swelling
Send a urine specimen for gonorrhea and chlamydia testing and treat him if the results are positive
Empirically treat him for gonorrhea and chlamydia with doxycycline and ceftriaxone

31. Answer: D. Sexually active males with epididymitis should be empirically treated for gonorrhea and chlamydia with ceftriaxone 250mg IM once (coverage for gonorrhea) and doxycycline 100mg PO BID for 10 days (coverage for chlamydia). Bedrest and NSAIDs may be helpful for pain control but the infection must be treated before discharge.

32. Recommended Reading
Brenner JS, Ojo A. Causes of Scrotal Pain in Children and Adolescents. UpToDate Online. Updated April 2009.
Gatti JM, Murphy JP. Current Management of the acute scrotum. Semin Pediatr Surg ;16:58-63.
Gatti JM, Murphy JP. Acute Testicular Disorders. Pediatr Rev Jul;29(7): 32