Tetracycline sclerotherapy for hydroceles and epididymal cysts

Tetracycline (Achromycin, Lederle) solution was used to produce sclerosis of 37 hydroceles and 18 epididymal cysts in patients over the age of 50 years. All but one of the epididymal cysts were sclerosed satisfactorily at 9 months; 35 hydroceles sclerosed satisfactorily, although four patients required re-treatment at 3 months. One patient required orchiectomy for an infected haematocele. Pain after instillation of tetracycline was an occasional complication which could be prevented by prophylactic spermatic cord block. Tetracycline sclerotherapy is a safe and effective alternative to surgery for hydroceles and epididymal cysts in older patients.