A Case Report of Intratesticular Hematoma in a Patient with Reiter's Syndrome

Diagnostics (Basel). 2023 Jun 7;13(12):1993. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics13121993.

Abstract

We present a case of a 28-year-old male patient with a spontaneous intratesticular hematoma. He had no history of trauma but experienced sudden onset of painful swelling in his right testis. Initially, testicular malignancy was suspected. The tumor marker of testis, including alfa-fetoprotein, lactic dehydrogenase, and β-human chorionic gonadotropin, was within normal range. The patient had been diagnosed with Reiter's syndrome at the age of 20 and had been treated with sulfasalazine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and acetaminophen for eight years. Various imaging techniques before operation planning, including ultrasonography and computed tomography, revealed a hematoma that accounted for 32% of the testicular volume. During the waiting period before the operation, the patient was diagnosed with a hematoma and avoided a possible diagnosis of malignancy. Follow-up imaging with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the presence of an intratesticular hematoma that had decreased in size. Since no other related factor contributed to this hematoma, and considering the possible hematological side effects of sulfasalazine, we suggest that this may be a rare side effect of sulfasalazine. Although the patient's testis was preserved, further fertility should be observed because animal studies have reported that testicular hematoma may cause fertility changes if the initial volume occupied is over 30% of the testis.

Keywords: Reiter’s syndrome; adverse drug reactions; inflammation; sulfasalazine; testicular hematoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports