Isolated scrotal lymphedema in a 43-year old male patient: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Lymphedema of the external genitalia is a rare condition characterized by swelling of the scrotal skin and subcutaneous tissue, resulting from a pathology in lymphatic drainage. Over time, the development of fibrosis leads to a considerable impairment in the patient's quality of life. While conservative management is generally the first-line approach, surgical cases may necessitate surgical intervention to achieve comprehensive and lasting improvements.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present the case of a 43-year-old obese male patient who presented to the clinic with a complaint of persistent bilateral scrotal swelling for three months. Clinical examination revealed a pressure-indolent, soft, and massively enlarged swelling of the scrotum on both sides. Ultrasound findings confirmed a diffusely thickened edematous scrotal wall. The patient was advised to start physiotherapy and adhere to conservative management. Due to the debilitating size of the mass, the patient opted for excision of the scrotal swelling followed by scrotoplasty.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

This case report explores the presentation, signs and symptoms, impact on patients' lives, and various management options for scrotal lymphedema. It underscores the intricacies involved in the diagnosis and treatment decision-making process, emphasizing the need for a tailored and multidisciplinary approach.

CONCLUSION

It is imperative to initially rule out life-threatening causes of scrotal lymphedema to ensure optimal patient care. The integration of surgical interventions should be carefully considered in the overall management strategy for optimal and comprehensive results. Scrotoplasty, in the context of scrotal lymphedema, not only improves the quality of life but also positively influences sexual function.

COMPETENCIES

Interpersonal and communication skills, Medical knowledge, Patient care, Practice-based learning and improvement.

Giant scrotal lymphedema after paraffinoma injection: A case report

Scrotal lymphedema is a rare condition characterized by blocked lymphatic drainage to the scrotum, resulting in physical and psychological discomfort for sufferers. Here, we present a case study of a 27-year-old male with giant scrotal lymphedema resulting from paraffinoma injection. The patient experienced scrotal enlargement since 2019, which engulfed the penis and was surrounded by edema. After confirming the absence of filariasis parasites, the patient underwent paraffinoma excision and scrotoplasty, resulting in a 13 kilograms scrotal specimen with no signs of malignancy. Giant scrotal lymphedema can be distressing, but surgical excision can improve the patient's quality of life.

Successful surgical treatment of giant scrotal lymphedema associated with Hodgkin's lymphoma: A rare case report

Scrotal lymphedema is a rare disease, caused by obstruction of the lymphatic vessels draining into the scrotum, and may be induced by malignant lymphoma.

A 27-year-old male, who was treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma, presented with scrotal swelling for 3 years. We observed huge scrotal swelling with extension to the suprapubic region and lower right limb, a significantly thickened scrotal wall, and nonpalpable testes. The patient underwent scrotal lymphedema excision followed by surgical scrotal and penile reconstruction.

Treatment of scrotal lymphedema is challenging. However, we were satisfied with our surgical result. Our patient experienced both physical and psychological improvements.

Surgical reconstruction of massive scrotal lymphedema associated with hidradenitis suppurativa: a case report

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory cutaneous disease affecting apocrine glands. It can be associated with lymphedema of the surrounding tissues and most commonly affects scrotum. As a debilitating complication of HS, lymphedema can cause significant morbidity and further exacerbate HS condition, thus causing a vicious cycle. Surgery was reported to be the most common treatment for this complication. Here, we present a 41-year-old patient with massive scrotal lymphedema following a 2-year history of HS. To reduce the volume of the scrotal mass and improve the appearance and function of the scrotum, we modified the Charle's procedure by complete excision of the affected tissue while retaining the scrotal septum, preserving the subcutaneous lymphatic tissue flap, turnover of the perididymis, and primary closure. We found that this approach achieved satisfactory cosmetic results, maintained cutaneous sensation and restored erections. There was no adverse event following surgery. No recurrence occurred over 6-month of follow-up. We believe that this modified Charles' procedure can improve the morphology and lymphatic function of the scrotum and recommend its use whenever possible. While rare, HS associated lymphedema should alert clinician to the potential consequence of an advanced disease situation. Collaborative approach with surgery in the management of this condition should be considered at early stage.

Surgical management of male genital lymphedema: A systematic review

Genital lymphedema (GL) is an uncommon and disabling disease that manifests as enlargement of the genital region resulting from the disturbance of lymphatic drainage. Although conservative treatment such as decompression is typically the first-line approach, surgical intervention has been shown to be effective in certain cases. This study aimed to systematically review studies evaluating available surgical alternatives for the treatment of male GL. A systematic search strategy using keyword and subject headings was applied to PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library in May 2019. Studies investigating various surgical techniques to treat penile and scrotal lymphedema were included. The potential risk of bias of included trials was evaluated using the methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS). In total, 13 studies met the inclusion criteria, nine of which were determined to be high-quality. The average MINORS score was 12.45 for studies involving excision and 14 for studies involving lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA). The most common reason for a low score was a failure to describe the inclusion criteria. Recurrence of lymphedema during follow-up was reported in four studies involving excision and in no studies involving LVA. In general, the quality of the included literature was considered to be fair. Although surgical intervention might not always prevent the recurrence of lymphedema, all of the studies reported improved quality of life after the procedure. This study could be used as the basis for evidence-based guidelines to be applied in clinical practice for managing male GL.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the penis and scrotum in a patient with chronic scrotal and penile lymphedema

Squamous cell carcinoma arising from tissue affected by chronic lymphedema is rare, though it is recognized that a variety of malignant tumors can arise in chronic congenital or acquired lymphedema. We describe, a case of scrotal and penile squamous cell carcinoma arising in a patient with a history of chronic scrotal and penile lymphedema of filarial origin. We here discuss the management and possible etiology of this unusual case.