Epididymal cyst

Less is known of the risks faced by males exposed to DES during fetal development. Animal studies have revealed that male rodents exposed to DES have increased incidence of prostatic metaplasia. Epidemiological studies of DES sons have suggested increased risk of various testicular abnormalities including epididymal cysts, testicular varicoceles, and undescended testis. Hyperplasia and metaplasia of the prostatic ducts in DES sons also have been reported. 

In utero exposure of men to DES, a synthetic non-steroid estrogen, has been linked to increased incidence of meatal stenosis, epididymal cysts, testicular hypoplasia, cryptorchidism, microphallus, and sperm abnormalities (Henderson et al., 1976 Gill et al., 1977, 1979 Stillman, 1982). In females, adenosis, clear cell adenocarcinoma, and structural defects of the cervix, vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes have been linked to in utero exposure to DES (Stillman, 1982). 

Noncancerous epididymal cysts (growths on the testicles), hypotropic testes, capsular induration of the testes, and cryptorchidism. 

Reproductive Effects. Data regarding the reproductive effects of hydrazines are limited to a few animal studies. Reproductive effects (ovarian and testicular atrophy, endometrial inflammation, aspermatogenesis) were observed in hamsters exposed to 1-5 ppm hydrazine by the inhalation route (Vemot et al. 1985). Tire incidence of endometrial cysts was significantly elevated in female mice exposed to 0.05 ppm 1,1-dimethylhydrazine (Haun et al. 1984). Spenn abnormalities and decreased caudal epididymal sperm counts were noted in mice injected with 8 mg/kg/day hydrazine or 12.5-68.8 mg/kg/day 1,1-dimethylhydrazine (Wyrobek and London 1973). These effects were not observed in hamsters exposed to 0.25 ppm hydrazine by die inhalation route (Vemot et al. 1985) or in mice and hamsters exposed to 5.3-9.5 mg/kg/day hydrazine by the oral route (Biancifiori 1970). No studies were located regarding the reproductive effects of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine. In addition, no studies were located which investigated effects of hydrazines on reproductive function. Despite the inconsistency of the findings from animal studies, the serious nature of the reproductive effects observed in the positive studies makes them one of concern for humans exposed to hydrazine. 

Von Hippel-Lindau disease predisposes to the development of various tumors (hemangioblastomas of the neuraxis and retina, tumors of the membranous labyrinth, renal clear cell carcinomas or cysts, pheochromocytomas, pancreatic cysts or tumors, and epididymal cystadenomas). Renal cancer constitutes one of the main causes of death (Richard et al. 1998). Conversely, meta-analysis of cases of coincident tuberous sclerosis complex shows that the risk of malignancy is comparable with the normal population (Tello et al. 1998). 

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