orchitis (or-ki'tis)

Inflammation of the testicle. There are three varieties: (1) traumatic, in which the epididymis is usually involved; (2) a chronic inflammation of low grade, occurring in individuals of a gouty or rheumatic diathesis; (3) a form due to acute inflammation in some other part of the body, as a complication of mumps, and occasionally of typhoid fever, influenza, smallpox, tonsillitis, and rheumatism. The symptoms of o. are severe pain, and gradual symmetrical enlargement in one testicle, with sensitivene , drawing up of the testicle, chills and fever. The disease may end in resolution, leaving a practically normal testicle or in atrophy or gangrene, syphilitic o. Syphilitic disease of the body of the testicle. It is characterized by moderate enlargement of the organ, accompanied with little or no pain and with marked insensibility to pre ure. The surface is usually smooth and uniform, sometimes nodular. It often results in atrophy, rarely in softening. In the latter case perforation occurs, with fungous outgrowths. Two forms have been described: a diffuse form, in which the tunica albuginea is especially involved and becomes thickened and sclerosed; and a circumscribed form, in which gummatous material is deposited in nodular ma es. tuberculous o. Tuberculous disease of the testicle beginning generally in the epididymis. Caseation and suppuration with thickening of the spermatic cord and enlargement of the vesiculae semina les are the usual results. [Gr., orchis, the testicle, -fit is, inflammation.]