Idiopathic infant pyoceles.

Three infants presented with acute scrotal swelling, erythema, and a tender irreducible firm mass within the scrotum. All patients were operated upon with the preoperative diagnosis of testicular torsion. At operation, grossly purulent fluid was found in a hydrocele sac. In all the cases, the testes were normal and no source of the scrotal infection was identified. A variety of bacterial organisms were cultured and responded readily to antibiotics. Follow-up has documented survival of the testes without apparent atrophy. "Idiopathic" infant pyocele is rarely described and consequently, not included in the differential diagnosis of patients with acute surgical conditions of the inguinoscrotal region.