[Primary epididymal tumors: report of 24 cases]

24 cases of primary epididymal tumors including 23 benign and 1 malignant tumors were treated. In these cases, 66.7% situated at epididymal tail, and 12.5% involved both tail and body. Smooth muscle tumor of one case was bilateral, and adenomatoid tumor of another one was multiple. The symptoms of primary epididymal tumors were mild even absent, so the tumor was easily confused with non-tumorous mass of epididymis. Benign epididymal tumor should be differentiated from tuberculosis, chronic inflammation or granuloma. Besides signs of malignant mass, malignant epididymal tumor usually showed thickened spermatic cord, especially enlarged ductus deferens. The removal of the tumor mass or whole epididymis of the same side could cure benign epididymal tumor without recurrence. Malignant epididymal tumor should be treated as malignancy of testis or spermatic cord, with adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy as indicated by the pathological type.