[Ischemic testicular necrosis without torsion of the spermatic cord]

Two diagnoses can be contemplated in case of sudden, painful increase in the volume of a testis: torsion of the spermatic cord and acute orchiepididymitis. Two cases observed in young adults show that acute testicular ischemia may occur without any torsion of the cord, probably due to sudden vascular occlusion. However, except in some infrequent vascular diseases, the etiology of such accidents in young adults in good health is still mysterious. The loss of the involved testis is the rule. Possibilities of treatment are limited at present and render the prognosis for the testis very poor.