My grandson is nearly 5 years old. He recently developed an enlarged testicle. My daughter says that within a week it grew about four times the size of the other testicle. Is cancer a possibility at this young age?
Nancy, I understand your concern. What you describe does sound like a very significant and rapid enlargement. Testicular tumors are unusual in this age group, but they can occur. Your grandson's condition certainly should be evaluated by a pediatrician or a pediatric urologist.
To diagnose this swelling, the pediatrician will want to know about the history of the swelling: Is it painful, does it change in size with position, was there trauma to the area? On exam, the doctor will look for signs of inflammation, like redness, warmth, or tenderness. It is important to determine what exactly is enlarged: Is it the actual testicle or the scrotum? Painful scrotal swelling should always be examined as soon as possible. Causes such as a twisting of the testicle need to be treated urgently. A frequent cause of painless swelling in the scrotum is a hydrocele, or a collection of fluid in the scrotum. This can result from a variety of causes. Sometimes a hydrocele is present from birth. It may occur as an inflammatory response to an infection in the area, a tumor of the testicle, or a twisting of a small piece attached to the testicle called the appendix testis. Twisting of the appendix testis is reasonably common in this age group. Although it results in no actual damage to the testicle, it may cause impressive swelling and possibly some redness, warmth, and tenderness of the scrotum. An inguinal hernia can also present itself suddenly as swelling in this area, as can bleeding in the scrotal area after trauma. As I mentioned before, the best way to determine the cause of your grandson's swelling is to have him examined by a pediatrician or pediatric urologist.
Learn more in the Everyday Health Kids' Health Center.
Last Updated: 12/3/2007