OBJECTIVETo investigate the transvesical approach to the surgical treatment of seminal vesicle mass.

METHODSTransvesical removal of seminal vesicle mass was performed for 5 patients aged 45-69 (mean 51) years. The clinical symptoms included those involving the lower urinary tract such as frequent micturition and urgency in 3 cases (1 accompanied with dyschezia), hematospermia in 1, and lower abdominal and perineal malaise in the other. Two masses were in the left side and the other 3 in the right, ranging from 3 to 10 cm (mean 5 cm) in size, detected by transrectal ultrasonography, CT, MRI or digital rectal examination. The mean course of disease was 9 (2-18) months.

RESULTSAll the 5 patients were treated successfully and uneventfully, with a mean operation time of 75 minutes, a mean blood loss of 140 ml and a mean hospital stay of 10 days. Pathological examinations revealed 2 cases of seminal vesicle cyst with infection, 1 cystadenoma, 1 phyllode tumor and 1 prostatic hyperplasia. A 3-72 months follow-up showed that all the patients were free of symptoms and had normal sexual function.

CONCLUSIONTransvesical removal of seminal vesicle mass, with small incisal opening, good visual field and easy operation, is an effective surgical procedure for seminal vesicle disease.