[The acute external genital].

Under the heading "acute diseases of the external genital organs" affections of the scrotal contents and the penis (without urethra) demanding immediate therapy are summarized. Crucial is the differential diagnosis epididymitis vs. torsion of the spermatic cord for an error may have very serious consequences for the patient as well as for the physician undertaking primary care. As to the other acute diseases of the scrotal contents the increasingly important role of scrotal sonography is stressed. Among the relatively rare acute affections of the penis traumatic rupture of the corpus cavernosum and priapism of various origin deserve particular interest because delayed wrong treatment may lead to loss of erectile potency.