Three prognostic factors influence clinical outcomes of primary testicular lymphoma

Epidemiological features and a survival nomogram for primary lymphoma of the male genital tract

Primary lymphoma of the male genital tract (PLMGT) is rare, and data on its epidemiology and prognosis are lacking. Our study aimed to estimate the incidence and develop a predictive nomogram for PLMGT. We pooled the incidence and survival data of PLMGT over the last 20 years from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Incidence rates were calculated by year of diagnosis, age, race, and histology. Independent prognostic factors selected by Cox regression analysis were used to develop a nomogram for predicting overall survival (OS). Our study enrolled 1312 patients with PLMGT. The overall incidence rate of PLMGT was 0.437/1,000,000 during 2000-2019. OS was associated with age, marital status, histological subtype, Ann Arbor stage, and therapeutic strategy, which were used to construct nomograms to predict 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates. Receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis showed good performance of the nomogram. Based on the total score of each patient from the nomogram, the patients were clustered into three risk groups, and the risk stratification model was more successful in predicting clinical outcomes than the traditional Ann Arbor staging system. The incidence rate of PLMGT has remained relatively stable over the past two decades. For the OS of patients with PLMGT, we established a novel predictive nomogram involving all independent risk factors obtained from the SEER database and developed a corresponding risk classification system that showed better predictive performance than the Ann Arbor staging system.

Abnormal presentation of a bilateral, synchronous and plurimetastatic medium and large cell testicular lymphoma: A case report

Primary testicular lymphoma (PTL) accounts for 1-2% of all cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, with a higher incidence in patients aged >60 years. The most common histological subtype is diffuse large-cell B lymphoma. By contrast, the bilateral synchronous and multimetastatic clinical presentation is a rare and unusual clinical presentation. In testicular masses, orchiectomy is essential for histopathological evaluation of the disease and definition of the immunophenotypic structure. The present study reported the case of a paucisymptomatic 54-year-old patient, who presented with erectile dysfunction and increasing testicular volume. Although clinical assessment and ultrasound examination showed an abnormal structure, highly suspicious for testicular cancer, the subsequent bilateral radical orchiectomy permitted the diagnosis of an unusual and rare PTL with multiple metastases reported at the PET/CT scan. In conclusion, the rare and aggressive disease represented by PTL requires a multidisciplinary approach and an aggressive treatment in order to provide the best care for patients affected.

The survival and prognostic factors of primary testicular lymphoma: two-decade single-center experience

This study aims to investigate the effect of different local testicular treatments and validate common prognostic factors on primary testicular lymphoma (PTL) patients. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 32 patients from 1993 to 2017 diagnosed with PTL and included 22 patients for analysis. The Kaplan–Meier method, Log-rank test, and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis were applied to evaluate progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and determine prognosis predictors. The median follow-up time was 30 months. Median OS and PFS were 96 months and 49 months, respectively. In univariate analysis, advanced Ann Arbor stage (III/IV) (P < 0.001), B symptoms (P < 0.001), and extranodal involvement other than testis (P = 0.001) were significantly associated with shorter OS and PFS. In multivariate analysis, Ann Arbor stage was significantly associated with OS (OR = 11.58, P = 0.049), whereas B symptom was significantly associated with PFS (OR = 11.79, P = 0.049). In the 10 patients with the systemic usage of rituximab, bilateral intervention could improve median OS from 16 to 96 months (P = 0.032). The study provides preliminary evidence on bilateral intervention in testes in the rituximab era and validates common prognostic factors for Chinese PTL patients.

Primary testicular lymphoma: A SEER analysis of 1,169 cases

Primary testicular lymphoma (PTL) is a rare lymphoid malignancy. The present retrospective study aimed to investigate the demographic characteristics and survival of patients with PTL, as well as the associated prognostic factors, using a population-based database. All adults diagnosed with PTL in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database were identified between 1973 and 2013. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate cause-specific survival (CSS). Log-rank test or multivariate Cox regression model was used to assess the influence of demographic and clinical parameters on CSS. A total of 1,169 patients with PTL were identified from the database, and the median age was 70 years. The predominant histological subtype was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which affected 82.9% (970/1,169) of patients, and 68.6% (802/1,169) of patients had early stage disease (stages I–II). Patients >70 years, those diagnosed at the earlier time period, or those who had advanced-stage symptoms had the worst 5-year CSS rates; however, treatment with rituximab significantly improved the 5-year CSS. In conclusion, this retrospective study presented data from the largest cohort of patients with PTL and described the effects of rituximab on the CSS of patients with PTL.

Primary extranodal lymphoma of the glands. Literature review and options for best practice in 2019

Primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (EN-NHL) are a heterogeneous group of malignancies that involve numerous entities with significant difference in terms of tumor site locations, prognostic factors, biology expression, and therapeutic options. In the literature, many EN-NHL types were reported from limited series which only allowed narrow views for elucidating prognostic factors and defining the role of loco-regional therapies in the era of new systemic and biologically targeted therapies. The Rare Cancer Network (RCN), an international multidisciplinary consortium, has published a number of reports on several EN-NHL sites which included many gland locations. In this review, we will focus on the recent literature for a selected number of EN-NHL types in both exocrine and endocrine gland locations. We aim to provide renewed and clear messages for the best practice in 2019 for diagnosis, histopathology, treatments, and also their prognostic implications. We believe that better understanding of molecular and genetic characteristics of these particular diseases is crucial for an appropriate management in the era of personalized treatment developments.

Clinical and histological features of primary testicular diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a single center experience in China

Primary testicular lymphoma (PTL) is a rare and aggressive form of extranodal lymphoma. Approximately 80–98% of PTLs are diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PT-DLBCL). The prognosis of DLBCL patients has improved with the addition of rituximab to systemic chemotherapy, but outcomes of PT-DLBCL remain poor. This may be explained by the high rate of relapse in the central nervous system (CNS) and contralateral testis. We analyzed 1,132 newly diagnosed DLBCL patients (37 with PT-DLBCL) who were treated at our hospital between January 2009 and December 2014. Twenty-five patients finished follow-up. We analyzed clinical characteristics, response to chemotherapy, overall survival, and relapse in the CNS and contralateral testis. All patients underwent orchiectomy. The median age was 60 (range: 43–82) years. Eleven patients had stage III/IV disease. Five patients experienced CNS relapse, and three experienced relapse in the contralateral testis. Median overall survival (OS) was not reached at the time of reporting. The 3-year OS rate was 57%. None of the nine patients who received radiotherapy to the contralateral testis experienced relapse in that location. Intrathecal prophylaxis did not reduce the risk of CNS relapse. All five patients who experienced CNS relapse had the germinal center B-cell-like subtype of DLBCL.

The World Health Organization 2016 classification of testicular non-germ cell tumours: a review and update from the International Society of Urological Pathology Testis Consultation Panel

The World Health Organization (WHO) released a new tumour classification for the genitourinary system in early 2016 after consensus by pathologists with expertise in these organs. It utilized the framework of the 2004 classification, and incorporated the most up-to-date information concerning these tumours. In testicular tumours, the majority of the changes occurred in the nomenclature and classification of germ cell tumours; however, several modifications were also made for non-germ cell tumours. Among sex cord-stromal tumours, sclerosing Sertoli cell tumour (SCT) is no longer recognized as a separate entity but as a morphological variant of SCT not otherwise specified (NOS), as CTNNB1 gene mutations have been noted in both neoplasms but not in the other forms of SCT. Similarly, the lipid cell variant is not separately classified, but is considered to be a morphological variant of SCT NOS. Large-cell calcifying SCT is recognized as a distinct entity that occurs either sporadically or in association with Carney complex, with the latter patients having a distinct germline PRKAR1A gene mutation. Intratubular large-cell hyalinizing Sertoli cell neoplasia is also accepted as a separate entity linked with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. The subcategories of 'mixed' and 'incompletely differentiated' forms of sex cord/gonadal stromal tumours have been replaced by 'mixed and unclassified sex cord-stromal tumours'. New entities introduced in the latest WHO revision include: myoid gonadal stromal tumour and 'undifferentiated gonadal tissue', a putative precursor lesion of gonadoblastoma, whereas juvenile xanthogranuloma and haemangioma are included in the miscellaneous category of tumours.

Intratubular Germ Cell Neoplasia of the Testis, Bilateral Testicular Cancer, and Aberrant Histologies

Intratubular germ cell neoplasia (ITGCN) is a precursor lesion for testicular germ cell tumors, most of which are early stage. ITGCN is also associated with testicular cancer or ITGCN in the contralateral testis, leading to a risk of bilateral testicular malignancy. Testicular biopsy detects most cases, and orchiectomy is the treatment of choice in patients with unilateral ITGCN. Low-dose radiation therapy is recommended in patients with bilateral ITGCN or ITGCN in the solitary testis, but the long-term risks of infertility and hypogonadism need to be discussed with the patient. Rare histologies of primary testicular cancer are also discussed.

Treatment of primary testicular diffuse large B cell lymphoma without prophylactic intrathecal chemotherapy: a single center experience

Background

Primary testicular diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a rare but aggressive extranodal lymphoma, and its relapse in the central nervous system (CNS) is a major concern during treatment. Despite this, the role of intrathecal prophylaxis in primary testicular DLBCL remains controversial.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 14 patients with primary testicular DLBCL diagnosed between November 2000 and June 2012, and analyzed the CNS relapse rate in patients treated without intrathecal prophylaxis. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

The median age at diagnosis was 57 years (range, 41-79 years). Unilateral testicular involvement was observed in 13 patients. Nine patients had stage I, 1 had stage II, and 4 had stage IV disease. The international prognostic index was low or low-intermediate risk in 12 patients and high-intermediate risk in 2 patients. Thirteen patients underwent orchiectomy. All the patients received systemic chemotherapy without intrathecal prophylaxis, and prophylactic radiotherapy was administered to the contralateral testis in 12 patients. The median follow-up period of surviving patients was 39 months (range, 10-139 months). Median overall survival was not reached and the median progression-free survival was 3.8 years. Four patients experienced relapse, but CNS relapse was observed in only one patient (7.1%) with stage IV disease, 27 months after a complete response.

Conclusion

Even without intrathecal prophylaxis, the rate of relapse in the CNS was lower in the Korean patients with primary testicular DLBCL compared to prior reports.

Primary Diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma of testis: A single centre experience and review of literature

Background:

Primary testicular lymphoma constitutes 1-2% of Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas affecting elderly men >60 years of age. Most often it is a Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and treatment involves multimodality approach involving surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Outcome remains poor in spite of aggressive therapy.

Materials and Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed 286 registered cases of DLBCL (aged >14 years) from 2007 to 2011 and found nine primary testicular involvement patients. These cases were analyzed for baseline clinical features, investigations, staging, treatment and outcome.

Results:

Median age was 58 (46-76) years. All patients presented with testicular swelling, two had the presence of B symptoms, and three with abdominal lymphadenopathy. Six had stage IE disease and three patients had stage IIE. All patients underwent orchiectomy. Eight patients received combination chemotherapy and six completed three or more cycles. Four achieved complete response, among these three relapsed after 32, 42, 70 months and one was lost to follow up. Two had a progressive disease, among these one died of disease and one alive with disease. Complete follow up was available from five patients and median survival was 36 months (11-78 months).

Conclusion:

Primary testicular DLBCL is uncommon, needs multimodality treatment and central nervous system prophylaxis to improve the survival. The outcome needs to be further investigated using biological approaches (Rituximab based) and/or more aggressive management.

Primary testicular lymphoma

Primary testicular lymphoma (PTL) is a rare, clinically aggressive form of extranodal lymphoma. The vast majority of cases are histologically diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, but rarer subtypes are clinically important and must be recognized. In this review, we discuss the incidence, clinical presentation, and prognostic factors of PTL and present a summary of the recent advances in our understanding of its pathophysiology, which may account for the characteristic clinical features. Although outcomes for patients with PTL have historically been poor, significant gains have been made with the successive addition of radiotherapy (RT), full-course anthracycline-based chemotherapy, rituximab and central nervous system–directed prophylaxis. We describe the larger retrospective series and prospective clinical trials and critically examine the role of RT. Although rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone given every 21 days with intrathecal methotrexate and locoregional RT is the current international standard of care, a substantial minority of patients progress, representing an unmet medical need. Finally, we discuss new treatment approaches and recent discoveries that may translate into improved outcomes for patients with PTL.

[Treatment outcome in primary testicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma]

INTRODUCTION

Primary testicular lymphoma constitutes a rare subgroup among extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Because of its aggressive clinical behaviour due to high grade histological features developing mainly in older population, patients with this disease usually have a poor prognosis. Orchidectomy followed by combination immunochemotherapy is a traditional treatment method with a rather inferior outcome.

AIM

In this retrospective survey the authors analysed the clinical presentation, pathological features and treatment results of patients with primary testicular lymphoma diagnosed and treated in their haematology centre between 2000-2012 METHOD: During this period 334 patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas were treated, of whom 8 patients (2.39%; age between 23 and 86 years; median, 60 years) underwent semicastration for primary testicular lymphoma (7 patients had diffuse, large B-cell lymphoma and one patient had Burkitt-like lymphoma). According to the Ann Arbor staging system a limited stage I-IIE was diagnosed in 7 patients and advanced stage was found in one patient. All but one patients were treated with rituximab added to CHOP regimen (6 or 8 cycles in every 21 or 28 days), whereas one patient received radiotherapy only. Central nervous system intrathecal prophylaxis was used in one case and no preventive irradiation of the contralateral testis was used.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 50 months complete remission was observed in 7 patients. However, two patients died (one due to progression and one in remission from pulmonary solid tumour). Complete remission rate proved to be 87.5%, disease-free survival was between 13 and 152 months (median 38 months) and overall survival rates were between 17 and 156 months (median 43 months). The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were 37.5 %.

CONCLUSIONS

The relatively favourable treatment outcome could be mainly explained by the high number of patients with early-stage of the disease, early surgical removal of testicular lymphomas and the use if immunochemotherapy. This therapeutic regimen was effective to prevent localized and distant relapses. Despite omission of regular prophylaxis of the central nervous system, no relapse was detected.