Extragonadal seminoma presenting as a large mass in the pelvic cavity without c-kit-activating mutations

A Rare Cause of Mechanical Intestinal Obstruction: A Neoplastic Intra-Abdominal Testis

The acute abdomen has many etiologies frequently encountered in emergency surgical units. Approximately 20% of surgical admissions for acute abdominal conditions are for intestinal obstruction. Clinicians often overlook rarer causes. A 43-year-old man presented to the emergency ward with the clinical findings of ileus. Computed tomography revealed a heterogeneous necrotic 168 × 100-mm mass between the sigmoid colon and urinary bladder. Physical examination revealed a palpable intra-abdominal mass that was removed via exploratory laparotomy. On histopathologic examination, the mass was identified as a seminoma. The literature contains few reports of seminoma as a cause of acute abdomen and ileus, mostly seen between the ages of 30 and 40 years. We report a patient with seminoma arising in an undescended testis that presented as a palpable painful lower abdominal mass and mechanical intestinal obstruction, despite the large diameter of the mass, as well as review relevant literature.

Cross-sectional Imaging Features of Primary Retroperitoneal Tumors and Their Subsequent Treatment

Basically malignant tumors in the retroperitoneal region arise from a heterogeneous group of tissues: mesodermal, neurogenic, germ cell, and lymphoid. Although rare, benign tumors and cystic masses can be also encountered in retroperitoneal space. Developments in computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have contributed to both diagnosis and staging of the retroperitoneal tumors. High spatial resolution and superiority in calcification make CT indispensable; on the other hand, MRI has a better soft-tissue contrast resolution which is essential for the assessment of vascular invasion and tissue characterization. The aim of this article is to review the CT and MRI features of retroperitoneal tumors and their subsequent management.