A 25-year-old male presents with sharp, severe pain in his right testicle that began suddenly a few hours ago. On examination, the right testicle is tender and seems to lie in a higher position than the left. What are the potential causes, and what are the next steps?
This patient's symptoms and examination findings are suggestive of testicular torsion, a urologic emergency where the spermatic cord twists, cutting off blood supply to the testicle. Other potential causes could include epididymitis, orchitis, or hernia. This patient needs immediate urological consultation, and if testicular torsion is confirmed, emergent surgery is required to untwist the cord and save the testicle.