Systematic review identifies common causes of scrotal masses in fetuses, highlighting diagnostic features and implications for management.
Evaluation of fetal genitalia is often neglected after determining fetal sex, yet the identification of a scrotal mass may suggest significant underlying conditions requiring specific management. We conducted a systematic literature review, following PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024559035), on the five most common causes of prenatal scrotal masses: inguinoscrotal hernia (IH), meconium periorchitis (MPO), testicular solid tumors (TST), hydrocele (H), and testicular torsion (TT). A total of 83 cases were included (IH = 31; MPO = 23; TST = 6; H = 10; TT = 13), all diagnosed in the third trimester. IH typically presented as unilateral right‐sided masses (63%), while MPO and H were predominantly bilateral (72% and 100%). TST and TT were mainly unilateral with no side preference. IH and MPO showed larger average diameters (> 35 mm). Additional findings were often associated with IH and MPO. MPO had the highest rates of preterm delivery (48%), neonatal medical support (40%), and urgent surgery (60.86%). IH and TST were usually associated with term deliveries and scheduled surgery (92.31% and 100%). TT showed a high incidence of urgent surgery (61.54%). This review outlines key sonographic features of prenatal scrotal masses to guide differential diagnosis and optimize perinatal care strategies.
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Romanzi et al. (2025) studied this question.
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