Tubular Ectasia of the Rete Testis: Two Cases at Bouaké University Hospital

Tubular Ectasia of the Rete Testis (TERT) is a disorder of the Rete Testis (RT) in which numerous benign cysts are present. It is a rare benign entity with a typical ultrasound appearance of clusters of small anechoic structures at the confluence of the testicular hilum. The importance of this condition lies in establishing an adequate differential diagnosis to avoid orchiectomy. Objective: To describe the ultrasound features of TERT cases diagnosed in the ultrasound unit of the Radiodiagnostics and Medical Imaging Department at Bouaké University Hospital. Patients and observations: Two men aged 56 and 49 were referred by peripheral health centres for a scrotal ultrasound scan due to progressive swelling of the right scrotum and a feeling of heaviness in the left scrotum, respectively. There was no pain or fever, and no history of trauma or scrotal surgery. The scrotal ultrasound revealed that the first patient had a normal-sized right testicle with multiple thin-walled, confluent anechoic formations centred on the testicular hilum. The absence of Doppler signal and testicular dysmorphia ruled out other intra-testicular pathologies. In addition, the right epididymis was heterogeneous with a sessile hydatid and a right hydrocele. The second patient had a normal-sized left testicle with the same lesions. In addition, he had an epididymal cyst and a minimal left hydrocele. Conclusion: TERT is a rare benign condition that generally occurs in individuals over the age of 45 and may occur alone or in association with other lesions. The diagnosis made by ultrasound coupled with Doppler must be known in order to avoid unnecessary surgical exploration.