Vasitis: clinical and ultrasound confusion with inguinal hernia clarified by computed tomography

Authors

  • Kathleen Eddy University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
  • Bruce Piercy Division of Urology, Vancouver Island Health Authority, Victoria BC
  • Richard Eddy Medical Imaging, Vancouver Island Health Authority, Victoria BC

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.679

Abstract

Vasitis or inflammation of the vas deferens is a rarely described
condition categorized by Chan & Schlegel1 as either generally
asymptomatic vasitis nodosa or the acutely painful infectious vasitis.
Clinically, infectious vasitis presents with nonspecific symptoms
of localized pain and swelling that can be confused with other,
more common conditions such as epididymitis, orchitis, testicular
torsion, and inguinal hernia. Ultrasound with duplex Doppler scanning
can be used to exclude epididymitis, orchitis, and testicular
torsion. On the other hand, while inguinal hernia is difficult to
differentiate from vasitis using ultrasound, computed tomography
(CT) is diagnostic. We describe 2 cases of vasitis with clinical
and ultrasound findings that initially were interpreted as inguinal
hernias. In both patients, CT was diagnostic for vasitis showing an
edematous spermatic cord and no hernia. Urine cultures in both
patients were negative, but the symptoms resolved with antibiotic
treatment.

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Author Biographies

Kathleen Eddy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Bruce Piercy, Division of Urology, Vancouver Island Health Authority, Victoria BC

Richard Eddy, Medical Imaging, Vancouver Island Health Authority, Victoria BC

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How to Cite

Eddy, K., Piercy, B., & Eddy, R. (2013). Vasitis: clinical and ultrasound confusion with inguinal hernia clarified by computed tomography. Canadian Urological Association Journal, 5(4), E74-E76. https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.679

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 4 (2011): August

Section

Case Report

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