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Scrotum Swelling Due To Rectal Cancer Surgery?
Posted on
Tue, 31 May 2011
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 31 May 2011
Answered on
Tue, 22 May 2012
Last reviewed on
Question : If having surgery for rectum cancer last year can cause my scrotal to swell up to the size like a football?
Hello XXXXXXX
Thanks for posting your query. If you had a surgery of rectal cancer last year and now the scrotum has enlarged to a size equivalent to a football, it is unlikely to be related to the rectum cancer surgery but it can be due to a benign or malignant tumor of the scrotum independently.
Such an enlargement of the scrotum can also be due to hydrocele testis which is a collection of sterile fluid in the cord attached to the testicle, which is invariably harmless. Left untreated, a hydrocele can grow to a large size (even a football) and cause discomfort.
It can be demonstrated by shining a flashlight (transillumination) through the enlarged portion of the scrotum. If the scrotum is full of clear fluid, as in a hydrocele, the scrotum will light up unlike a tumor which being a solid does not light up. An ultrasound may be done to confirm the diagnosis and is one of the best tests. I suggest you to consult a general surgeon and get done these tests to confirm the diagnosis.
If it is a hydrocele it has to be drained surgically.
Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Thanks for posting your query. If you had a surgery of rectal cancer last year and now the scrotum has enlarged to a size equivalent to a football, it is unlikely to be related to the rectum cancer surgery but it can be due to a benign or malignant tumor of the scrotum independently.
Such an enlargement of the scrotum can also be due to hydrocele testis which is a collection of sterile fluid in the cord attached to the testicle, which is invariably harmless. Left untreated, a hydrocele can grow to a large size (even a football) and cause discomfort.
It can be demonstrated by shining a flashlight (transillumination) through the enlarged portion of the scrotum. If the scrotum is full of clear fluid, as in a hydrocele, the scrotum will light up unlike a tumor which being a solid does not light up. An ultrasound may be done to confirm the diagnosis and is one of the best tests. I suggest you to consult a general surgeon and get done these tests to confirm the diagnosis.
If it is a hydrocele it has to be drained surgically.
Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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