Editing Epididymitis (section)

===Classification===
[[File:Suppurative epidydimo orchitis histopathology.jpg|thumbnail|right|Histopathology image of inflamed epididymis and testis]]
Epididymitis can be classified as acute, subacute, and chronic, depending on the duration of symptoms.<ref name=AMP09>{{cite journal |vauthors=Trojian TH, Lishnak TS, Heiman D |title=Epididymitis and orchitis: an overview |journal=Am Fam Physician |volume=79 |issue=7 |pages=583–7 |date=April 2009 |pmid=19378875 }}</ref>

====Chronic epididymitis====
[[File:Epididymal calcifications and cyst.jpg|thumb|[[Scrotal ultrasound]] showing calcifications and cysts in a case of chronic epididymis.]]
Chronic epididymitis is epididymitis that is present for more than 3 months. Chronic epididymitis is characterized by inflammation even when there is no [[infection]] present. Tests are needed to distinguish chronic epididymitis from a range of other disorders that can cause constant scrotal pain including [[testicular cancer]] (though this is often painless), enlarged scrotal veins ([[varicocele]]), calcifications,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://radiopaedia.org/articles/epididymal-calcification|title=Epididymal calcification|author=Matt A. Morgan and Yuranga Weerakkody|website=[[Radiopaedia]]|access-date=2018-05-21}}</ref> and a possible [[cyst]] within the epididymis. Some research has found that as much as 80% of visits to a urologist for scrotal pain are for chronic epididymitis.<ref name=kav>{{Cite book|title=Practical urology: essential principles and practice|last1=Kavoussi|first1=Parviz K.|last2=Costabile|first2=Raymond A.|editor1-last=Chapple|editor1-first=Christopher R.|editor2-last=Steers|editor2-first=William D.|year=2011|chapter=Disorders of scrotal contents: orchitis, epididimytis, testicular torsion, torsion of the appendages, and Fournier's gangrene|publisher=Springer-Verlag|place=London|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A9m8TkdCUqEC&pg=PA315|isbn=978-1-84882-033-3}}</ref>{{rp|p.311}} As a further complication, the nerves in the scrotal area are closely connected to those of the abdomen, sometimes causing abdominal pain similar to a hernia (see [[referred pain]]).

Chronic epididymitis is most commonly associated with lower back pain, and the onset of pain often co-occurs with activity that stresses the low back (i.e., heavy lifting, long periods of car driving, poor posture while sitting, or any other activity that interferes with the normal curve of the [[lumbar lordosis]] region).<ref name=baran/>{{rp|p.237}}