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Transillumination of a scrotal swelling
System: Kidney & Urinary Signs · All kidney & urinary signs
What it is — and how it is elicited
Shining a bright light through a scrotal swelling in a darkened room: a fluid-filled swelling glows red, while a solid mass or bowel does not.
What a positive finding suggests
A glowing swelling is associated with a hydrocele (fluid around the testicle); failure to transilluminate is associated with hernia or solid masses.
Related signs — Kidney & Urinary Signs
Browse the T section of the A–Z list or return to the Clinical Signs hub.
Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.