Surgeons Removed Rare Scrotal Mass From Infant

A Pennsylvania infant underwent surgery to resolve a rare case of meconium periorchitis.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Babies

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a simplified medical instrument on a sterile surface, navy and cream, evoking clinical medical intervention. — Surgeons in Pennsylvania successfully removed a rare, hardened meconium mass from a six-month-old infant, confirming the lesion was not a tumor. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Surgeons in Pennsylvania successfully removed a hardened meconium fecalith from the scrotum of a six-month-old infant. The case, published September 1, 2026, details a rare medical condition where fetal waste leaks into the scrotum.

Why it matters

Clinicians performed the surgery because initial imaging could not rule out testicular germ cell tumors, prompting a biopsy and mass removal to ensure the childs health. The successful outcome highlights the importance of diagnostic surgical intervention when scrotal masses present in infants.

The infant was born at 39 weeks and presented with a 1.4-centimeter scrotal lesion containing calcifications. Meconium periorchitis occurs in approximately 1 in 35,000 live births, with research showing that 80.6% of such cases require surgery.

The players

Geisinger

This Pennsylvania-based integrated health services organization provided the clinical team that evaluated and treated the infant.

Journal of Surgical Case Reports

This peer-reviewed medical publication serves as the venue for documenting unique or rare surgical findings.

The details

After identifying a small, firm testicle during a six-month checkup, surgeons performed an orchidopexy to anchor the organ and removed the mass. Pathology confirmed the lesion as meconium, and the infant exhibited no associated bowel issues or other complications.

Birth: Meconium leaked into the abdominal cavity.
14 days old: Infant received an initial circumcision evaluation.
6 months old: Clinicians identified a firm, small testicle during a follow-up.
September 1, 2026: Case published in the Journal of Surgical Case Reports.
Six weeks post-surgery: Follow-up visit confirmed the infant was in good health.

Roadmap

This case follows the precedent of a 2021 clinical review of 31 meconium periorchitis cases that identified surgical intervention as the primary treatment. The outcome aligns with existing surgical standards where over 80% of identified cases require an operation to manage the calcified mass.

The report underscores that while meconium periorchitis is extremely rare, parents who notice firm scrotal masses in infants should seek prompt pediatric evaluation. Timely clinical assessment ensures that surgeons can differentiate between benign masses and conditions requiring immediate operative care.

The takeaway

This case illustrates that unusual scrotal findings in infants can occasionally be traced back to prenatal conditions like meconium leakage. Parents should follow up on all abnormal clinical observations with their pediatrician to rule out serious concerns.