A clinico-pathological review of non-haematological metastases to the testes

Abstract

Objective:

Metastatic disease within the testicle is rare and the bulk of the literature relating to this is limited to individual case reports. In this study we retrospectively review all orchidectomy specimens in a single university-affiliated institution over a 20-year period and report on the incidence of non-haematological, histologically proven metastatic disease within this series, discussing clinical outcome.

Patients and methods:

In total 739 orchidectomy cases were reviewed. No autopsy cases were considered. Histological reports were supplemented with clinical notes in cases of interest.

Results:

Five cases of non-haematological, secondary tumours were identified in the testes (2% of all tumours). Of these, two were of prostatic origin, two were carcinoid lesions of the gastrointestinal tract and one a malignant melanoma. Survival in this group ranged from one to 48 months with one of the patients still alive 15 years later.

Conclusion:

Secondary testicular spread is a rare phenomenon generally associated with poor overall survival. Outside prostate cancer, this is a condition seen in younger men. Little is known about this interesting condition.