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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffScreening and diagnosis entail a physical exam. Although a spermatocele usually isn't painful, you may feel discomfort when your doctor examines (palpates) the mass.
You may also undergo the following diagnostic tests:
- Transillumination. Your doctor may shine a light through your scrotum. With a spermatocele, the light will indicate that the mass is fluid-filled rather than solid.
- Ultrasound. If transillumination indicates a fluid-filled mass, your doctor may order an ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis. If transillumination doesn't clearly indicate a cyst, an ultrasound can help determine what else it might be. This test, which uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of structures, may be used to rule out a testicular tumor or other cause of scrotal swelling.
Other tests usually aren't necessary. However, if the ultrasound is inconclusive, your doctor may request magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create cross-sectional images of your body.
