Enlarged veins in the scrotum are called

• A. Varicocele
• B. Hydrocele
• C. Epididymal cyst
• D. Orchitis

Answer: (A)

Enlarged veins in the scrotum are called varicocele. This condition involves dilation of the veins that drain the testicles (the pampiniform plexus), producing a soft, often winded or “bag-of-worms” feeling in the scrotum. It most commonly occurs on the left side due to how the left testicular vein drains into the left renal vein, and it may be painless or cause a dull ache or a sense of heaviness, sometimes affecting fertility if present for a long time. Diagnosis is often through physical exam and can be confirmed with ultrasound.

Hydrocele is swelling from fluid around the testicle, not enlarged veins. An epididymal cyst is a fluid-filled sac in the epididymis. Orchitis is inflammation or infection of the testicle, which usually presents with pain, redness, and tenderness. These conditions involve fluid, cysts, or inflammation rather than dilated veins, so they don’t describe the exact issue in question.