Investigations
1st investigations to order
clinical diagnosis
Test
Usually no tests are necessary.
Result
features of hydrocele
Investigations to consider
ultrasound
Test
The inability to palpate the testis or suggestion of underlying pathology (e.g., fever, gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, or constipation, shadow on transillumination) should raise the suggestion of a different diagnosis or some additional underlying pathology and requires the use of scrotal ultrasound. Ultrasound has nearly 100% sensitivity in detecting intrascrotal lesions.[7][19][27]
Ultrasound of the inguinal area may also be helpful in rare cases of female hydroceles.
Result
males: scrotal ultrasound confirms presence or absence of normal/abnormal testis; females: inguinal ultrasound confirms presence or absence of hydrocele
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