Non-germ cell testicular tumours
- Lesion
A small share of testicular tumours come from stromal cells or lymphocytes; they make hormones or affect older men.
What it is
Sex cord–stromal tumours are a minority of testicular tumours. Leydig cell tumours can secrete androgens or estrogens, causing precocious puberty in boys and gynecomastia in men; most are benign. Sertoli cell tumours are usually hormonally silent and benign. Gonadoblastoma, a mix of germ cells and sex cord cells, arises in dysgenetic gonads of people with a Y chromosome and can give rise to germinoma. Lymphoma, mostly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, is the commonest testicular tumour of men over 60 and is often bilateral.
Structure
- Leydig: homogeneous, well-circumscribed brown-yellow nodule.
- Sertoli: grey-white or yellow; cells forming cords and tubules.
- Lymphoma: fleshy, cream-coloured, replacing the testis, with tubules surrounded by sheets of lymphoma cells.
Non-germ cell testicular tumours
| Tumour | Who | Feature | Behaviour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leydig cell tumour | Children and adults | Hormones: androgens or estrogens; Reinke crystals | Mostly benign |
| Sertoli cell tumour | Adults; syndromes | Tubular pattern, usually silent | Mostly benign |
| Gonadoblastoma | Dysgenetic gonads with Y material | Germ cells plus sex cord cells, calcifications | Can give rise to germinoma |
| Testicular lymphoma | Men over 60 | Diffuse large B-cell, often bilateral | Aggressive |
Clinical notes
- A testicular mass in a man over 60 is more likely lymphoma than germ cell tumour.
- Gynecomastia in a young man with a testicular mass suggests a Leydig cell tumour or a choriocarcinoma component.
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Which crystals are characteristic of Leydig cells?
Reinke crystals, rod-shaped eosinophilic inclusions.
What is the commonest testicular tumour in men over 60?
Lymphoma, usually diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
In which patients does gonadoblastoma arise?
In dysgenetic gonads of people with Y chromosome material.
Elsewhere in DurgiPedia
Connections
Educational content on the mechanisms of disease; not a diagnostic or treatment guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.
Sources: Testicular Cancer (StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf), 2024).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.