[Arteritis and fatty degeneration of the spermatic cord resembling periarteritis nodosa: a case report].

A 23-year old male was admitted to our hospital because of swelling of the left scrotum for one month without any particular past history. Blood count, chemistry, urinalysis, chest X-ray and electrocardiogram revealed normal findings. Scrotal exploration was performed. A soft, dumbbell-like tumor enveloped in a thin membrane was found above the left testis. Pathology revealed fibrinous exudation and fibrinoid necrosis in the whole vessel wall indicating resemblance to the panarteritis in periarteritis nodosa. Some granulomatous lesions with many histiocytes were also noted around these arteries. The findings suggested that a inflammation like periarteritis nodosa had occurred at the spermatic cord and subsequently developed into fatty degeneration in the surroundings. Since local periarteritis nodosa-like lesion may progress to systematic disease, further observation is mandatory for this case.