OBJECTIVETo improve the diagnosis and the treatment of tuberculous epididymitis.

METHODSRetrospective studies were made of 20 cases of isolated epididymal tuberculosis defined as "tuberculosis infection affecting the epididymis without evidence of renal involvement as documented by the absence of acid fast bacilli in the urine sample and on imaging" among 35 patients with epididymal tuberculosis. Two weeks after the intensified anti-TB treatment by the combined therapy of Isoniazid + Rifampicin + Streptomycin or Ethambutol, all the patients underwent surgical removal of the tuberculous lesion, followed again by the combined therapy for 6-9 months.

RESULTSOf the 20 cases, 16 experienced no recurrence and complications within 0.5-5 years after the surgery, 3 were found with urinary tuberculosis at 3, 3.5 and 5 years, and 1 developed tuberculous epididymitis of the other side at 3.5 years.

CONCLUSIONIsolated tuberculous epididymitis may be the sole or the initial presentation of genitourinary tuberculosis, for which timely surgery is the best option and has a good prognosis.