Adenomatoid tumors of testis and epididymis: a report of two cases

A caecal pseoudotumour with an incidental adenomatoid testicular tumour in a man with right undescended testis: a case report

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory pseudotumour refers to a non-malignant tumour-like mass resulting from an inflammatory reaction that is composed of granulation tissue with leukocyte infiltration that commonly occurs in the paediatric or young adult population. These tumours occur more commonly in the lungs and the orbit but rarely does it affect the gastrointestinal tract. It poses a clinical diagnostic challenge since it is a benign condition than can mimic the malignant counterpart. Our case is a rare presentation of the caecal pseudotumour in the presence of a right undescended abdominal testis evaluated as a caecal tumour with a differential diagnosis of a testicular malignancy.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a 53-year-old male who presented with clinical signs suggestive of right colon tumour and undescended right testis. Intra-operatively, a caecal mass was found with no clearly discernable appendix and extensive adhesion of the right colon to the retroperitoneum, to the liver and gall bladder. A testis was found adherent to the posterior aspect of the caecum and terminal ileum. A right hemicolectomy was performed. Histopathology findings revealed an inflammatory mass with abundant fibroblast proliferation and chronic inflammatory cells infiltrate, involving bowel wall and periceacal adipose tissue; no malignant cells were identified. The testis had within it an adenomatoid tumour nodule. He had uneventful recovery and was discharged home 7 days post-operatively. At the moment, he is symptoms free.

CONCLUSIONS

The occurrence of right colonic inflammatory pseudotumour and co-existent adenomatoid testicular tumour arising from a cryptorchid testis is very unusual. This would make one incline towards a malignant testicular lesion in the presence of cryptorchidism. Testicular adenomatoid tumour is a rare benign neoplasm, mostly affecting fully descended testis and usually does not warrant orchidectomy for purposes of preserving testicular function. On the other hand, surgical resection remains the only safe and curative treatment option available for inflammatory pseudotumours.

Adenomatoid tumor of testis

Adenomatoid tumors are responsible for 30% of all paratesticular masses. These are usually asymptomatic, slow growing masses. They are benign tumors comprising of cords and tubules of cuboidal to columnar cells with vacuolated cytoplasm and fibrous stroma. They are considered to be of mesothelial origin supported by histochemical studies and genetic analysis of Wilms tumor 1 gene expression. Excision biopsy is both diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. The main clinical consideration is accurate diagnosis preventing unnecessary orchiectomy. Diagnostic studies include serum tumor markers (negative alpha fetoprotein, beta HCG, LDH) ultrasonography (hypoechoic and homogenous appearance) and frozen section.

Benign and Malignant Neoplasms of the Testis and Paratesticular Tissue

Benign and malignant tumors of the testes and paratesticular tissues present an interesting spectrum of diagnostic entities often encountered in routine surgical pathology practice. Germ cell tumors are the most common tumors of the testes and, despite a rising incidence, have excellent prognosis because of their radiosensitivity and/or effective chemotherapeutic agents. The proper classification of these tumors aids in the choice of appropriate treatment options. This article reviews benign and malignant neoplastic entities of the testes and paratesticular tissues and illustrates the classic pathologic characteristics. The differential diagnosis, along with ancillary studies, clinical significance, and presentation are discussed also.

Skin adnexal neoplasm closely resembling adenomatoid tumor: a unique occurrence

We describe a primary skin neoplasm located in the left chest wall that closely resembled adenomatoid tumor of male and female genital tract. It occurred in a 52-year-old woman who had undergone a left quadrantectomy with regional lymphadenectomy for invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast 7 years previously. The tumor involved the dermis and subcutaneous tissue and measured 0.7 cm in greatest diameter. Immunohistochemical evaluation showed strong positivity for cytokeratin pool and negativity for CD31, calretinin, WT-180, and for estrogen and progesterone receptors. We are unaware of a previous description of this morphologic pattern in a primary skin tumor, which we have interpreted as of skin adnexal and specifically of eccrine sweat gland origin.

Cystic Adenomatoid Tumor of the Mediastinum

A case of adenomatoid tumor presenting as a mass in the anterior mediastinum is described. The patient was a 56-year-old woman with left side chest wall pain who showed a mediastinal mass on chest x-ray and CT scans. Thorough clinical and radiographic examination did not reveal any evidence of tumor elsewhere. At surgery, the tumor was found adjacent to the anterior pericardial reflection. Grossly, the tumor measured 5.5 x 5.5 x 3 cm and showed a homogeneous cut surface with numerous cystic structures that varied from 0.5 to 1.5 cm in greatest diameter. Histologic examination showed numerous cystic spaces lined by flattened or cuboidal epithelial cells. The walls of the cysts showed a proliferation of small canalicular structures lined by round to polygonal epithelioid cells with vacuolated eosinophilic cytoplasm. Immunohistochemical studies showed strong positivity of the epithelioid cells for AE1/AE3 cytokeratin, CK5/CK6, and calretinin. Stains for CK7, CK20, alpha-fetoprotein, CD31, carcinoembryonic antigen, MOC 31, and chromogranin were negative. Electron microscopic examination showed numerous long microvilli on the cell surface and abundant tonofilaments/desmosomal plaques in the tumor cells, characteristic of mesothelial cells. The patient is alive and well and free of recurrence 1 year following surgery. Adenomatoid tumor is a rare neoplasm that should be added in the differential diagnosis of anterior mediastinal masses. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies may be of aid in identifying the characteristic features of mesothelial cells and to avoid mistaking this lesion for more ominous conditions.