Tumors appearing in the testicles can be caused by varicocele, hydrocele, testicular torsion... and usually cause no symptoms.
Most tumors found in the testicles are caused by fluid accumulation, infection, swelling of the skin or veins. Depending on the specific cause, the tumor is accompanied by symptoms such as: pain or discomfort; stiffness or heaviness in the scrotum; difficulty urinating; abnormal discharge… In some cases, testicular tumors don't cause any other symptoms and can be harmless. However, men also need to see a specialist because some serious medical conditions can be warning signs of cancer.
According to doctors, lumps and swelling in or on the skin around the testicles occur for a variety of reasons, including:
Cysts: A cyst is a fluid-filled sac that resembles a small lump and is hard to the touch, grows almost anywhere on the body and is usually harmless. These cysts don't cause any symptoms and usually don't need treatment, but sometimes cause men to feel heaviness or a dull ache. In the case of painful cysts, men need surgery.
Varicose veins of the testicles: Although most people with varicocele do not experience any symptoms, the condition can cause complications such as infertility and delayed testicular growth during puberty.
Testicular water cyst: Also called hydrocele, it occurs after an infection or injury to the testicle. An effusion is usually painless and does not cause any symptoms other than swelling, affecting one or both testicles. Some complications may occur such as infection, testicular atrophy, etc.
Epididymitis causes swelling and pain that can make a man feel like there's a lump in the testicle. Image: Freepik
Testicular torsion: This is a serious situation. If left untreated, infection, infertility, and testicular atrophy can result. In some cases, surgical removal of the testicle is required.
Epididymitis: The epididymis is a tube located behind each testicle and contains sperm. The inflammation causes the epididymis to become swollen and painful, making a man feel like he has a lump. People with epididymitis may also experience pain, sensitivity, and heat in the surrounding skin. If left untreated, the disease can easily lead to infection, cause an abscess, and increase the risk of infertility or sepsis.
Testicular cancer: A lump or swelling can be one of the first symptoms of testicular cancer. Most tumors do not cause pain. They often form on the front or side of the testicle, causing a man to feel that the entire testicle is harder than usual. According to the American Cancer Society, the disease is not common, only about 1 in 250 men have it and the risk of dying is about 1 in 5.000.
How to diagnose and treat
Men can manually check for lumps or swelling in the testicles. If the tumor is not causing pain or discomfort, men may not need treatment. However, regular home check-ups are needed to make sure the tumor is not getting bigger or changing shape. Doctors say the cyst will usually go away on its own. When they cause pain, applying a warm washcloth will help reduce swelling; And when there is an infection, men need to take medicine to treat the infection.
With malignant tumors, men will need radiation therapy or chemotherapy depending on the stage of the disease to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. Surgery to remove melanoma in the testicles is also needed in some cases.
As the (According to Medical News Today)
