TUMOURS OF THE TESTIS-SOME PATHOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS1

Malignant sertoli cell tumour of the testis in a child

Very few cases of malignant Sertoli cell tumour of the testis are reported in the literature. The average age at discovery of this tumour is 39 years. Malignant Sertoli cell tumour of the testis in a child is presented, the fourth case reported in the literature. We present our case to increase awareness of this tumour in this age group, to point out the capability of Sertoli cell tumours to metastasize, and to document the remarkable initial response to combination chemotherapy, a hitherto unreported feature.

Malignant gonadal stromal tumor: case report and review of the literature

Of the 80 cases of gonadal stromal tumor reported in the literature 10 were malignant. We herein report another malignant case. The role of chemotherapy and radiation therapy in malignant gonadal stromal tumor has not been defined. While the only sue evidence of malignancy is metastatic disease we recommend that if macroscopic and microscopic examination of the primary tumor suggests malignancy a retroperitoneal node dissection should be performed.

Lymphography as a guide to prognosis in malignant testicular tumours

Lymphography was performed in 130 patients with malignant neoplasm of the testes. The patients were treated by irradiation, supplemented by chemotherapy when lymph node metastases were present. The survival rates of the various pathologic subdivisions were analyzed according to the lymphography. The following 5-year survival rates were observed: seminoma: normal lymphography 94%, pathologic lymphography 69%; teratocarcinoma: normal lymphography 86%, pathologic lymphography 14%; embryonal carcinoma: normal lymphography 64%, pathologic lymphography 33%.

Testicular lymphoma

Testicular tumor in the sixty- to eighty-year age group is mostly lymphoma. It is usually a manifestation of a generalized lymphoma, even though it may appear localized. Prognosis is uniformly poor. A combined approach of radiation and chemotherapy gives the best results. Chemotherapy is used sequentially in multiple doses. Two cases are reported.