Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

A scrotal mass is an abnormality in the contents of the scrotum, the bag of skin hanging behind the penis. The scrotum contains the two testicles and related structures that produce, store and transport sperm and male sex hormones. A scrotal mass may be the accumulation of fluids, the growth of abnormal tissue, or normal contents of the scrotum that have become swollen, inflamed or hardened.

Scrotal masses need to be examined by a doctor, even if you're not experiencing pain or other symptoms. A scrotal mass could be a cancerous tumor or another condition that affects the function and health of the testicles.

Self-examination and regular doctor exams of the scrotum are important for prompt recognition, diagnosis and treatment of a scrotal mass.

References
  1. Orchitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals.  http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec17/ch239/ch239e.html. Accessed May 22, 2009.
  2. Epididymitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals.  http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec17/ch239/ch239d.html. Accessed May 22, 2009.
  3. Testicular cancer. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals.  http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec17/ch241/ch241h.html. Accessed May 22, 2009.
  4. Haynes JH. Inguinal and scrotal disorders. Surgical Clinics of North America. 2006;86:371.
  5. Junnila J, et al. Testicular masses. American Family Physician. 1998;57:685.
  6. Shaw J. Diagnosis and treatment of testicular cancer. American Family Physician. 2008;7:469.
  7. Brenner JS, et al. Causes of painless scrotal swelling in children and adolescents.  http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 28, 2009.
  8. Galejs LE. Diagnosis and treatment of the acute scrotum. American Family Physician. 1999;59:817.
  9. Elder J. Disorders and anomalies of the scrotal contents. In: Kliegman R, et al., eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders/Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/142753628-2/0/1608/1246.html?tocnode=54484554&fromURL=1246.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50547-8_9817. Accessed May 20, 2009.
  10. Cole FL, et al. The acute, nontraumatic scrotum: Assessment, diagnosis, and management. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. 2004;16:50.
  11. Marcozzi D, et al. The nontraumatic, acute scrotum. Emergency Medical Clinics of North America. 2001;19:547.
  12. Testicular cancer: Questions and answers. National Cancer Institute.  http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/sites-types/testicular. Accessed May 25, 2009.
  13. Cooper C, et al. Undescended testicle (cryptorchidism). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 22, 2009.
  14. Barthold JS, et al. The epidemiology of congenital cryptorchidism, testicular ascent and orchiopexy. Journal of Urology. 2003;170:2396.
  15. Eyre RC. Evaluation of the acute scrotum in adult men.  http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 28, 2009.
  16. Information from your family doctor. Testicular cancer. American Family Physician. 2004;69:613.

DS00410

July 14, 2009

© 1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Reliable tools for healthier lives," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Text Size: smaller largerlarger