Scrotal meconium pseudocysts: meconium periorchitis as a rare cause of postnatal acute scrotum

Abstract

A 10-day-old newborn was taken to the paediatric emergency room due to scrotal swelling. Physical examination showed scrotal enlargement and palpable intrascrotal hard formations. Laboratory blood tests revealed no significant alterations. Testicular ultrasonography showed thickened and hypoechoic scrotal walls and bilateral intrascrotal isoechoic nodules with small internal calcifications. An abdominal X-ray confirmed evidence of bilateral scrotal microcalcifications and small calcifications in the left hypochondrium. Urgent laparotomy performed for scrotal exploration verified the presence of nodular formations on the vaginal tunic of both testicles; the nodules were removed. Bilateral orchidopexy was performed in the same surgical session. When dealing with an acute scrotum in a newborn both emergency radiologists and clinicians should consider the possibility of scrotal meconium pseudocyst as a rare but possible cause of periorchitis.