Efficacy of the traditional Japanese medicine goreisan for the resolution of spermatic cord hydrocele in children

Purpose Goreisan, a traditional Japanese medicine, has previously been used for hydrostatic modulation. This retrospective study investigated the efficacy of goreisan for spermatic cord hydrocele resolution in children. Methods Seventy-two boys treated for spermatic cord hydrocele between 2012 and 2015 were included; Goreisan was administered to 16 [group G, median age 3 (1–8) years], and 56 were followed without medication [group C, median age 1 (0–8) years]. An age-matched comparison was conducted between 14/16 group G patients (group g) and 14/56 group C patients (group c). Results Incidences of resolution were higher in groups G and g than in groups C and c, respectively, both during the study period and within the first 6-month observation period; groups G and g also had a significantly lower incidence of surgery for hydrocele than in groups C and c, respectively. The interval from the commencement of observation until hydrocele resolution was significantly shorter in group G than in group C, but not in group g than in group c. Conclusion Goreisan can effectively promote the resolution of spermatic cord hydrocele in children and may be a valid treatment choice for this condition.