Large- and Medium-Sized Vessel Systemic Vasculitis with Testicular Involvement

Vasculitis of the large vessels (aorta and its major branches) frequently also affects small- and medium-sized arteries. Testicular and spermatic vessel lesions have been described in giant cell arteritis and Takayasu’s arteritis. Among the most frequently observed medium-sized vessel vasculitis in the testis are polyarteritis nodosa and Kawasaki disease. Types of vasculitis that can affect vessels of all sizes (large, medium, and small) and both arteries, veins, and capillaries include Behçet’s disease and Cogan’s syndrome. The most common clinical symptoms of this vasculitis vary from simple pain and swelling to those of an acute scrotum including epididymitis, torsion or a malignant tumour.