Meconium periorchitis: A case report

• Published in: Archivos argentinos de pediatría Vol. 113; no. 6; pp. e330 - e332
• Main Authors: Acosta, Pamela, Gambina, Francisco, Perelli, Lucas, Díaz Pumará, Estanislao, Martínez, Jorge L, Etchepareborda, María N, Zuccardi, Luis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Argentina 01-12-2015
• Subjects: Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Meconium; Orchitis - diagnosis; Scrotum - pathology
• ISSN: 1668-3501
• DOI: 10.5546/aap.2015.e330

Meconium periorchitis is uncommon. In the unborn child the peritoneum vaginal canal is open and, secondary to intestinal perforation due to any cause (intestinal atresia, volvulus, and others), meconium peritonitis occurs. The intestinal content reaches the scrotal vaginal cavity. Meconium peritonitis can heal spontaneously and without consequences. Calcified remnants of this event may remain in the peritoneal cavity and/or scrotum. In the newborn, a hydrocele and scrotal mass can be observed; the ultrasound will show a heterogeneous image with calcifications. Meconium periorchitis or meconium vaginalitis resolves spontaneously. The lack of awareness of this disease could lead to unnecessary surgery in the newborn. We present a 33 days old patient with a scrotal mass in whom surgery was performed with the pathological diagnosis of meconium periorchitis.