What is the difference between varicocele and hernia

In our case there was abnormal communication of right testicular vein and superior mesenteric vein in our patient without any clinical signs and symptoms or any evidence of portal hypertension; the cause of the abnormal communication still remains obscure, and it might be a salvage pathway for raising portal pressure. The inguinoscrotal swelling was soft and used to disappear with pressure or lying down mimicking inguinal hernia. Treatment of such pathological condition has not been defined; some surgeon advised to avoid surgery in such situation [ 8 ] for fear of massive unanticipated blood loss or opening of other portosystemic shunt.

The abnormal communication might have served as salvage pathway for increasing portal pressure because of which there might not be signs and symptoms of portal hypertension. We planned for embolization of the communicating vessel but patient refused the intervention. Isolated giant varicocele resulting from abnormal communication of right testicular vein and superior mesenteric vein and mimicking inguinal hernia is extremely rare condition. Surgical intervention in such situation might result in unanticipated blood loss or rupture of another portosystemic shunt.

The definitive management of such condition is still to be defined. The manuscript has not been submitted or published elsewhere. Patient consent for using the image has been taken. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article of the Year Award: Outstanding research contributions of , as selected by our Chief Editors. Read the winning articles. Journal overview. Muhammed Zahir , 1 Hassan R. Academic Editor: G. Received 05 Jan Accepted 05 Feb Published 28 Feb Abstract Isolated giant varicocele has been reported with portal hypertension that results in abnormal communication between portal venous system and testicular vein venous system resulting in retrograde backflow of blood into the testicular venous system which leads to varicosity of the pampiniform plexuses.

Introduction Simple inguinal hernia presents as lump in the groin that goes away with lying down or with minimal pressure. Case Report A year-old, Indian male, presented to urology outpatient with history of reducible swelling of right scrotum and groin associated with dull aching and dragging sensation that started couple of years ago. Figure 1. CT angiography showing right testicular vein draining into inferior vena cava and abnormal communication with superior mesenteric vein.

Figure 2. Abnormal communication of superior mesenteric vein and rt testicular vein. References J. Glassberg, The adolescent varicocele I: left testicular hypertrophy following varicocelectomy. Kass, E. Belman, Reversal of testicular growth failure by varicocele ligation. Stern, R. Kistler, and A. Scharli, The Palomo procedure in the treatment of boys with varicocele: a retrospective study of testicular growth and fertility. Pediatr Surg Int, Paduch, D.

Niedzielski, Repair versus observation in adolescent varicocele: a prospective study. Manoharan, S. J Pediatr Surg, Jones, M. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol, Brandt, M.

Surg Clin North Am, Kogan, B. Surg Endosc, Lloyd, D. Ziegler M. Luo, C. Chao, Prevention of unnecessary contralateral exploration using the silk glove sign SGS in pediatric patients with unilateral inguinal hernia.

Eur J Pediatr, Garner, J. Hernia, Erez, I. Rosenberg, J. Tackett, L. Ron, O. Eaton, and A. Pierro, Systematic review of the risk of developing a metachronous contralateral inguinal hernia in children. This causes a hydrocele. In most boys this canal closes. Hydroceles can also happen after injury and swelling of the scrotum. They can get better in a few months.

If not, they need medical attention. Inguinal hernias happen when the open lining does not close before birth. That leaves a weak area in the groin. Pressure can cause the intestine to push through and bulge out.

The bulge may hurt or burn. A hernia can occur soon after birth or much later in life. Hernias that occur in older adult males are common and can happen from pressure, like straining during bowel movements, heavy lifting, coughing, sneezing or obesity. This pressure forces part of the intestine through that weak spot in the groin or abdominal wall. Your health care provider will often ask about your health history, conduct a physical exam, and may use imaging tests like ultrasound to look closer.

He or she may:. To look further, your health care provider might recommend blood and urine tests to check if there is an infection. Hydroceles call for surgery if they cause symptoms, become large, or show a change in size during the day. If the hydrocele is "non-communicating," meaning that there is no related inguinal hernia, a cut is made in the scrotum. The hydrocele is cut out and tissue is removed.

If there is "communication," or a related inguinal hernia, a cut is made in the upper groin area. This allows the hernia to be repaired at the same time as the hydrocele. In children it is often better to use an approach through the groin to avoid missing a hernia.

See More See Less. A hydrocele can also form on the other side, and the risk is about 5 out of cases. The urologist may want to check the other side of the groin, making a small cut through the abdominal wall and looking through a small laparoscope instrument inserted through the abdominal wall.

Surgery to fix the muscle ring that did not close is recommended for a hernia in a child. Hernias do not go away on their own.