hydrocele

Definition of hydrocele

hydr- o -cel- -e - Accumulation of serous fluid in a saclike structure (fluid swelling); A hydrocele is an abnormal collection of clear, straw-colored serous fluid within a saclike cavity, most commonly surrounding one or both testicles in the scrotum (hydrocele testis), but also possible along the spermatic cord or (rarely) in females via the canal of Nuck. It arises from congenital patency of the processus vaginalis (allowing peritoneal fluid entry), impaired fluid absorption, inflammation, trauma, infection (e.g., filariasis), or secondary to testicular pathology; communicating types fluctuate with activity, while noncommunicating remain fixed—most resolve spontaneously in infants, but persistent cases may require hydrocelectomy.

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ETYMOLOGY of hydrocele

latin - From Latin hydrocēlē via French hydrocèle, borrowed from Ancient greek ὑδροκήλη (hudrokḗlē).

• Breakdown: ὕδωρ (húdōr) (“water”) + κήλη (kḗlē) (“hernia, tumor, swelling”).
• Literally “water hernia” or “water swelling,” reflecting the fluid-filled sac appearance; described since ancient times (Hippocrates).

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CODING CORNER

🔗 Related ICD-10-CM Codes

Same category, different subtype:

• N43.1 — Infected hydrocele
• N43.2 — Other hydrocele
• N43.40 — Spermatocele, unspecified
• N43.41 — Spermatocele, single

Related genital/scrotal findings:

• N44.00 — Torsion of testis, unspecified
• N45.1 — Epididymitis
• N45.4 — Abscess of epididymis or testis
• P83.5 — Congenital hydrocele (Excludes1; not billable in adult inpatient context)

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🛠️ Commonly Associated CPT Codes

• 55000 — Puncture aspiration of hydrocele without excision; used when the hydrocele is drained rather than surgically excised.
• 55040 — Excision of hydrocele, unilateral; the standard hydrocelectomy code for a single-side procedure.
• 55041 — Excision of hydrocele, bilateral; used when both sides are addressed in the same operative session rather than reporting 55040 twice with modifier -50.
• 55060 — Repair of tunica vaginalis hydrocele (bottle-type procedure); a distinct repair technique rather than simple excision.
• 55500 — Excision of hydrocele of spermatic cord, unilateral; used specifically when the hydrocele originates along the spermatic cord rather than the tunica vaginalis proper.

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DERIVATIONS of hydrocele

TABLE definition AS Definition
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Query functionality

TABLE definition AS Definition
FROM #medroot
WHERE length(filter(definition, (word) => econtains([[hydrocele]].definition, word))) > 0 AND file.name != [[hydrocele]].file.name

Med terms dictionary Appendix A Prefixes Appendix B Combining Forms Appendix C Suffixes Appendix D Suffix forms