Appendix of testis

File:Ultrasonography of an appendix on a testicle in a hydrocele.jpg

Scrotal ultrasonography of an 85-year-old man with hydrocele, making the appendix of the testicle clearly distinctive as a 4 mm outpouching at upper right in image. Doppler shows some blood flow.

The appendix testis (or hydatid of Morgagni) is a vestigial remnant of the Müllerian duct, present on the upper pole of the testis and attached to the tunica vaginalis. It is present about 90% of the time.

Clinical significance

Torsion

The appendix of testis can occasionally become twisted, causing acute one-sided testicular pain and may require surgical excision to achieve relief. One third of patients present with a palpable "blue dot" discoloration on the scrotum. This is nearly diagnostic of this condition. If clinical suspicion is high for the serious differential diagnosis of testicular torsion, a surgical exploration of the scrotum is warranted. Torsion of the appendix of testis occurs at ages 0–15 years, with a mean at 10 years, which is similar to that of testicular torsion.

See also

• Paraovarian cyst

External links

• emerg/595 at eMedicine
• synd/292 at Whonamedit?

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