鞘膜积液主要发生于男性,女性罕见。常见于男性婴儿和儿童,在许多情况下,与腹股沟斜疝相关。[5]Kapur P, Caty MG, Glick PL. Pediatric hernias and hydroceles. Pediatr Clin North Am. 1998;45:773-789.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9728185?tool=bestpractice.com1%-3%的足月婴儿患有鞘膜积液或疝。[3]Baskin LS, Kogan BA. Hydrocele/hernia. In: Gonzales ET, Bauer SB, eds. Pediatric urology practice. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; 1999:649-653.鞘膜积液在早产儿和睾丸下降相对较晚的婴儿中更为普遍。尸检结果表明鞘状突未闭存在于80%-94%的婴儿和15%-30%的成年人。[6]Skoog SJ. Benign and malignant pediatric scrotal masses. Urol Clin North Am. 1997;44:1229-1250.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9326960?tool=bestpractice.com[7]Barthold JS, Kass EJ. Abnormalities of the penis and scrotum. In: Belman AB, King LR, Kramer SA, eds. Guide to clinical pediatric urology. London: Martin Dunitz; 2002:267-298.[8]Rowe MI, Copelson LW, Clatworthy HW. The patent processus vaginalis and the inguinal hernia. J Pediatr Surg. 1969;4:102-107.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/5779274?tool=bestpractice.com[9]Bronsther B, Abrams MW, Elboim C. Inguinal hernias in children - a study of 1,000 cases and a review of the literature. J Am Med Womens Assoc. 1972;27:522-525.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4342346?tool=bestpractice.com一侧鞘状突未闭存在时,对侧鞘状突未闭的发生率是 15%-22%。[2]Schneck FX, Bellinger MF. Abnormalities of testis and scrotum and their surgical management. In: Wein AJ, Kavoussi LR, Novick AC, et al, eds. Campbell-Walsh urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 2007:3761-3798.在大多数情况下,鞘状突在出生后的第1年闭合,鞘膜积液的发病率因此下降。[6]Skoog SJ. Benign and malignant pediatric scrotal masses. Urol Clin North Am. 1997;44:1229-1250.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9326960?tool=bestpractice.com[7]Barthold JS, Kass EJ. Abnormalities of the penis and scrotum. In: Belman AB, King LR, Kramer SA, eds. Guide to clinical pediatric urology. London: Martin Dunitz; 2002:267-298.[8]Rowe MI, Copelson LW, Clatworthy HW. The patent processus vaginalis and the inguinal hernia. J Pediatr Surg. 1969;4:102-107.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/5779274?tool=bestpractice.com[9]Bronsther B, Abrams MW, Elboim C. Inguinal hernias in children - a study of 1,000 cases and a review of the literature. J Am Med Womens Assoc. 1972;27:522-525.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4342346?tool=bestpractice.com宫内暴露于多溴联苯(一种溴化阻燃剂和内分泌干扰物)已经被发现会增加罹患鞘膜积液/疝的风险。[10]Small CM, DeCaro JJ, Terrell ML, et al. Maternal exposure to a brominated flame retardant and genitourinary conditions in male offspring. Environ Health Perspect. 2009;117:1175-1179.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2717147/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19654930?tool=bestpractice.com
成年男性的发病率未知。高达20%的精索静脉高位结扎术后患者罹患鞘膜积液。然而,通过应用高度专业化的显微外科技术,鞘膜积液的发生率可能下降到不足 1%。[11]Esposito C, Valla JS, Najmaldin A, et al. Incidence and management of hydrocele following varicocele surgery in children. J Urol. 2004;171:1271-1273.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14767329?tool=bestpractice.com[12]Lipshultz LI, Thomas AJ, Khera M. Surgical management of male infertility. In: Wein AJ, Kavoussi LR, Novick AC, et al, eds. Campbell-Walsh urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 2007:665.[13]Al-Kandari AM, Shabaan H, Ibrahim HM, et al. Comparison of outcomes of different varicocelectomy techniques: open inguinal, laparoscopic, and subinguinal microscopic varicocelectomy: a randomized clinical trial. Urology. 2007;69:417-420.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17382134?tool=bestpractice.com大约 10% 的睾丸恶性肿瘤被认为伴随鞘膜积液。[6]Skoog SJ. Benign and malignant pediatric scrotal masses. Urol Clin North Am. 1997;44:1229-1250.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9326960?tool=bestpractice.com丝虫病在许多国家都很常见,往往伴随相关的由于淋巴管阻塞造成的鞘膜积液。[14]Streit T, Lafontant JG. Eliminating lymphatic filariasis: a view from the field. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2008;1136:53-63.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18579875?tool=bestpractice.com