Genitourinary System Assessment Related

Review Genitourinary System Assessment related questions and content

A 15-year-old boy is seen in the clinic for complaints of “dull pain and pulling” in the scrotal area. On examination, the nurse palpates a soft, irregular mass posterior to and above the testis on the left. This mass collapses when the patient is supine and refills when he is upright. This description is consistent with:

  • A. Epididymitis.
  • B. Spermatocele.
  • C. Testicular torsion.
  • D. Varicocele.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Varicocele. Varicocele is a dilatation of the pampiniform plexus of veins within the scrotum. In this case, the soft, irregular mass that collapses when the patient is supine and refills when he is upright is characteristic of a varicocele due to the pooling of blood causing the mass to vary in size with position changes.

A: Epididymitis typically presents with redness, warmth, and tenderness in the epididymis, not a soft, irregular mass.
B: Spermatocele is a cystic mass that is typically painless and does not change in size with position changes.
C: Testicular torsion presents with severe, sudden onset of testicular pain, swelling, and discoloration, not a soft, irregular mass that changes with position.

In summary, the description of a soft, irregular mass that changes with position is consistent with a varicocele,