Scrotal pathology in the outpatient setting in Operation Iraqi Freedom

The purpose of this study was to describe the incidence and pathology of scrotal pain among military men deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. It is a retrospective review of patients seen by the urology service at a U.S. Army combat support hospital (CSH) in Iraq from March 29, 2007 to August 12, 2007. Of the 222 outpatient visits to the urology service 81 (36%) had 1 or more scrotal complaints for a total of 90 scrotal-related problems. The vast majority (86%) were found to have epididymitis. Scrotal sonograms on these patients found only 1 patient with a testicular neoplasm. Varicocele (6.2%), spermatocele (4.9%), and hydrocele (2.5%) accounted for the remaining scrotal findings. Urologic referrals for scrotal problems are common in the deployed environment. We feel the best treatment for chronic scrotal pain in theater is conservative with urologic referral in patients who fail their initial course of therapy.