Sonographic diagnosis of large-cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor

An incidental finding of large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor in an orchidectomy specimen for a separate adenomatoid tumor

Introduction

Large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumors are exceedingly rare. They are most commonly benign, but risks for malignancy include older age, larger size of tumor, and solitary tumors. To the author's knowledge, this is the first case reported of an incidental large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor when an orchidectomy was performed for a separate lesion.

Case presentation

A 31-year-old male presented with a painless testicular lump. Ultrasound demonstrated an exophytic lesion in the superolateral aspect and calcifications were noted inferomedially and inferolaterally in the right testis. On histology from radical orchidectomy, the superolateral lesion was found to be an adenomatoid tumor, and the calcifications inferiorly represented a large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor. The background showed foci of germ cell neoplasia in situ but no evidence of invasive malignancy.

Conclusion

Calcifications on ultrasound in isolation may represent large cell calcifying Sertoli Cell tumors.

Characteristic ultrasound appearance of a rare testis tumor: Bilateral multiple large-cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor

Characteristic ultrasound features of large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor (LCCSCT), including hypoechoic masses with amorphous coarse calcifications can aid in differentiating this tumor from other entities. Bilateral multiple LCCSCTs almost always show a benign course; therefore, defining the diagnosis with sonographic findings is crucial to avoid unnecessary orchiectomy.

Unilateral, Small, Benign, Late-Onset, Large-Cell Calcifying Sertoli Cell Tumor: A Case Report

Large-cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor (LCCST) is a rare, testicular sex cord, gonadal stromal tumor that belongs to the histological subgroup of Sertoli cell tumors. LCCSTs may involve malignant potential. However, metastasis is a rare phenomenon. We describe a case of benign late-onset LCCST with testis-sparing surgery. Modern imaging techniques were useful for considering organ-sparing surgery. The ultrasound of a 37-year-old man disclosed a sharp demarcated and strong hyper-echoic lesion sized 1.5 cm, with broad dorsal acoustic shadowing. Testicular tumor markers, including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-HCG) did not reveal any pathological finding. Contrast-enhanced MRI of the pelvis showed a ring-shaped tumor with a strong contrast medium enhancement. Sections of the tumor showed a hard mass with a white calcified ring. A frozen section examination of the testicular tumor did not indicate malignancy. Histologic examination revealed a prominent and noticeable calcification of approximately 3 mm thickness. Tumor cells presented in the form of solid nests, tubules, and cords. Our present case differs from previously reported LCCST cases because the tumor was unilateral, smaller in size, and presented in an older patient.

Imaging of Pediatric Testicular and Para-Testicular Tumors: A Pictural Review

Pre- and post-pubertal testicular tumors are two distinct entities in terms of epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment. Most pre-pubertal tumors are benign; the most frequent are teratomas, and the most common malignant tumors are yolk-sac tumors. Post-pubertal tumors are similar to those found in adults and are more likely to be malignant. Imaging plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis, staging and follow-up. The appearance on ultrasonography (US) is especially helpful to differentiate benign lesions that could be candidates for testis-sparing surgery from malignant ones that require radical orchidectomy. Some specific imaging patterns are described for benign lesions: epidermoid cysts, mature cystic teratomas and Leydig-cell tumors. Benign tumors tend to be well-circumscribed, with decreased Doppler flow on US, but malignancy should be suspected when US shows an inhomogeneous, not-well-described lesion with internal blood flow. Imaging features should always be interpreted in combination with clinical and biological data including serum levels of tumor markers and even intra-operative frozen sections in case of conservative surgery to raise any concerns of malignity. This review provides an overview of imaging features of the most frequent testicular and para-testicular tumor types in children and the value of imaging in disease staging and monitoring children with testicular tumors or risk factors for testicular tumors.

Large Cell Calcifying Sertoli Cell Tumor: A Clinicopathologic Study of 18 Cases With Comprehensive Review of the Literature and Reappraisal of Prognostic Features

We present a series of 18 (8 clinically benign, 8 clinically ambiguous [ie, lacking sufficient follow-up to determine behavior], and 2 clinically malignant) large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumors (LCCSCT) of the testis. The median patient age and size were 15.5 years and 1.9 cm for the benign tumors; 19 years and 1.6 cm for the ambiguous tumors; and 28.5 years and 2.3 cm for the malignant tumors. The most common presentation was a mass (n=12/18, 67%). Two patients (11%) had the Carney complex, and 2 had neurofibromatosis type 1. All tumors showed nodular growth with frequent lymphoid aggregates at the periphery. Within the nodules, there were nests and trabeculae of pale to eosinophilic epithelioid tumor cells with frequent cytoplasmic vacuolization interspersed with hypocellular, often myxoid stroma with conspicuous neutrophils. Spindled tumor cells were a minor component (<5%) in the clinically benign, ambiguous, and malignant tumors, except in 1 malignant tumor where they comprised 50% to 60% of the cellularity. Calcifications were noted in all but 2 benign tumors that were otherwise of typical appearance. Six tumors (3 in the clinically benign, 1 in the clinically ambiguous, and 2 in the malignant groups) were considered potentially malignant based on the presence of ≥1 adverse pathologic features previously recognized (see reference 1)-that is, size>4 cm, extratesticular growth, necrosis, significant atypia, vascular invasion, and >3 mitotic figures/10 HPFs. Of these, 3 tumors had ≥2 adverse features. One in a 7-year-old was clinically benign despite 5 "malignant" features; the remaining 2 in 27- and 30-year-olds, were clinically malignant, with both fulfilling previously suggested criteria for pathologically malignant tumors (age above 25 y and ≥2 adverse pathologic features). No clinically benign or ambiguous tumor met those same criteria. Of the adverse features, each of the 2 clinically malignant tumors showed tumor necrosis and lymphovascular invasion. All patients, except 1 with a clinically malignant tumor, were alive at a median follow-up of 33 months. In addition, in our literature review of 97 additional LCCSCTs, we identified 2 clinically malignant tumors in 42- and 45-year-old men that lacked any documented adverse pathologic criterion and 2 clinically malignant cases in patients with either the Carney complex or Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. In summary, our study and literature review support that all LCCSCTs in patients above 25 years old should be considered potentially malignant, and those in this age group with ≥2 adverse pathologic features warrant aggressive clinical management; furthermore, syndrome-associated cases are not uniformly benign. Tumor necrosis and lymphovascular invasion likely should receive greater adverse prognostic weight. LCCSCTs in young children may show benign outcomes despite several adverse pathologic features.

The role of scrotal ultrasonography from infancy to puberty

Background

Scrotal ultrasonography is an essential diagnostic tool in daily clinical practice. The availability of new‐generation ultrasound machines characterized by clearly improved image quality, low health cost, and higher patient safety, represents only some characteristics of ultrasound investigation. The usefulness of scrotal ultrasonography is particularly evident in the period of life from infancy to puberty, during which males undergo important morphofunctional changes, and several pathological conditions may occur.

Objectives

This pictorial review primarily aimed to investigate the aspects of ultrasonography related to the normal physiological development of the gonads from mini‐puberty to pubertal onset. This study also aimed to provide an update on the use of ultrasonography in main andrological pathologies that may occur during this period. The conditions that are discussed in depth are: cryptorchidism, inguinoscrotal hernias, and hydrocele in the neonatal phase; acute scrotum, epididymo‐orchitis, and testicular cancers in childhood; and hypogonadism, varicoceles, testicular microlithiasis, and oncohematological pathology in puberty.

Discussion

We provided an ultrasound slant for all the above‐mentioned pathologies while purposely avoiding excessive deepening of the pathogenetic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects. Studying the ultrasound aspects of the gonads also facilitates differential diagnosis between various conditions and represents a good aid in evaluating therapeutic success (e.g., in hypogonadism or postsurgical evaluation of varicoceles and cryptorchidism).

Conclusion

Scrotal ultrasonography is now globally recognized as the necessary completion of clinical–laboratory overview in gonads evaluation. This diagnostic procedure is even more indispensable in the infancy–childhood–puberty period for the evaluation of normal gonadal development as well as diagnosis of other possible diseases.

Testicular tumours in children: an approach to diagnosis and management with pathologic correlation

Testicular tumours are rare in children. Painless scrotal mass is the most frequent clinical presentation. Tumoural markers (alpha-fetoprotein, beta-human gonadotropin chorionic) and hormone levels (testosterone) contribute to the diagnosis and management of a testicular mass in boys. Ultrasonography is the best imaging modality to study testicular tumours. A benign tumour is suggested when ultrasonography shows a mainly cystic component, well-defined borders, echogenic rim or normal to increased echogenicity lesion when compared to the healthy testicular parenchyma. Malignant tumour is suspected when ultrasonography shows inhomogeneous, hypoechoic, not well-circumscribed or diffuse infiltration lesion. However, these ultrasonographic findings may overlap. Colour Doppler, power Doppler, elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography are useful complementary methods to characterise the focal testicular lesions. Chest computerised tomography and abdominopelvic magnetic resonance are necessary to establish the extension in case of malignant proved tumours.Benign tumours are more frequent in prepuberal boys and malignant tumours in pubertal boys. Mature teratoma prepubertal-type is the most common histologic type. Testicular sparing surgery is the choice in benign tumours. Radical inguinal orchiectomy is indicated in malignant tumours. Prognostic is excellent.The purpose of our study is to show an approach to the diagnosis and management of the most frequent testicular tumours in children according to clinical manifestations, imaging findings and tumour markers levels based on histologically confirmed tumours in our hospital.