Enlargement and hypervascularity of both the epididymis and testis do not exclude involvement with lymphoma or leukemia

Leukemia and male infertility: past, present, and future

Spermatogenesis is the process of the proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) to generate sperm. Leukemia patients show impairment in some of the endocrine hormones that are involved in spermatogenesis. They also show a decrease in semen parameters before and after thawing of cryopreserved samples compared to a control. The mechanisms behind these effects have not yet been described. This review summarizes the effect of leukemia on semen parameters from adult patients and highlights feasible suggested mechanisms that may affect impairment of spermatogenesis in these patients. We suggest the possible involvement of leukemia in disturbing hormones involved in spermatogenesis, and the imbalance in testicular paracrine/autocrine factors involved in the formation of SSC niches that control their proliferation and differentiation. Understanding the mechanisms of leukemia in the impairment of spermatogenesis may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies mainly for prepubertal boys who do not yet produce sperm.

Straight Vessel Pattern and Rapid Filling Time: Characteristic Findings on Contrast-Enhanced Sonography of Testicular Lymphoma

Six patients with 7 lesions that were histologically confirmed as primary testicular lymphoma were preoperatively investigated with a standardized sonographic protocol including contrast-enhanced sonography. Duplex and contrast-enhanced sonography showed marked hypervascularization in all 7 lesions. On contrast-enhanced sonography, the filling time of lymphomatous lesions was significantly shorter than the filling time of a size-matched sample of 10 patients with seminomas (P < .0001). The sonographic hallmarks of testicular lymphoma in our case series were as follows: (1) sharply demarcated homogeneous hypoechoic testicular lesions with marked hypervascularization; (2) a rapid (<7 seconds) filling time of contrast bubbles; and (3) a straight and parallel course of intralesional vessels on contrast-enhanced sonography.

Grayscale and color Doppler features of testicular lymphoma

Pooled data from 16 radiology centers were retrospectively analyzed to seek patients with pathologically proven testicular lymphoma and grayscale and color Doppler images available for review. Forty-three cases were found: 36 (84%) primary and 7 (16%) secondary testicular lymphoma. With unilateral primary lymphoma, involvement was unifocal (n = 10), multifocal (n = 11), or diffuse (n = 11). Synchronous bilateral involvement occurred in 6 patients. Color Doppler sonography showed normal testicular vessels within the tumor in 31 of 43 lymphomas (72%). Testicular lymphoma infiltrates through the tubules, preserving the normal vascular architecture of the testis. Depiction of normal testicular vessels crossing the lesion is a useful adjunctive diagnostic criterion.

Lymphoma of the spermatic cord: sonographic appearance

Primary lymphoma of the spermatic cord is a rare disease accounting for about 1.6% of primary spermatic cord tumors. We hereby present a new case in which color Doppler ultrasound (US), contrast-enhanced US, and MRI suggested a specific diagnosis that was subsequently confirmed pathologically. Color Doppler US revealed mostly hypoechoic, slighly hypervascular tissue surrounding the normal spermatic vessels, which was markedly hypervascular at contrast-enhanced US. MRI showed diffuse infiltration by homogeneously enhancing tissue surrounding the spermatic vessels hypointense to testis on T2-weighted images, isointense on T1-weighed images, lacking fat tissue, with relatively high signal intensity on diffusion-weighted images.

Epididymal lymphoma: report of two cases and imaging findings

Epididymal lymphoma is a very rare tumor that is difficult to differentiate radiologically from other paratesticular tumors. Most cases of epididymal lymphoma are secondary involvement of the epididymis in patients with testicular lymphoma. However, isolated epididymal lymphoma is very rare. We herein report two cases of isolated epididymal lymphoma with different imaging findings. Patient 1 was a 52-year-old man who presented with a painless scrotal mass. Patient 2 was a 65-year-old man who presented with painless scrotal swelling. Ultrasound (US) demonstrated different imaging findings: US in patient 1 showed a well-defined round mass in the tail of the epididymis with hypervascularity confined to the epididymis, while US in patient 2 showed diffuse infiltrative enlargement with hypervascularity confined to the epididymis. Orchiectomy performed in both patients revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma confined to the epididymis.

Lymphoma of the testis and epididymis mimics chronic inflammation upon sonography

We report the sonographic findings in a case of lymphoma, which mimicked chronic inflammation. Scrotal gray-scale sonography revealed an irregularly margined, hypoechoic mass in the right testis and epididymis. Color Doppler sonography showed increased blood flow within the hypoechoic lesions in both testis and epididymis. Pathologic examination revealed a diffuse involvement of the testis and epididymis.

Sonography of Pediatric Scrotal Swelling

Sonography is the preferred imaging method for the evaluation of pediatric scrotal swelling. By identifying the site of origin and whether a mass is solid or cystic, the diagnosis is usually readily made, making ultrasound especially valuable in patient management. Scrotal pathology differs in pediatric patients, especially prior to puberty, making understanding of pediatric conditions essential. This article reviews the common intra- and extratesticular causes of pediatric scrotal swelling and their sonographic appearances.