[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [General pathology](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/) › [Lower urinary tract and male genital system](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/areas/urinary-male/) › Seminoma and spermatocytic tumour

# Seminoma and spermatocytic tumour

- Lesion

The commonest testicular germ cell tumour: sheets of large clear cells divided by bands with lymphocytes; very sensitive to treatment.

Updated Nov 12, 2026

## Key points

- Gross: soft, well-demarcated, grey-white, lobulated, usually without hemorrhage or necrosis.
- Micro: large uniform cells with clear cytoplasm and central nuclei with prominent nucleoli, in lobules separated by fibrous septa with lymphocytes; granulomas in some.
- Markers: OCT3/4, KIT (CD117), D2-40, SALL4; AFP never raised.
- Mild hCG elevation from scattered syncytiotrophoblasts does not change the diagnosis.
- Spermatocytic tumour: older men, three cell sizes, no lymphocytes or GCNIS; indolent.

## What it is

Seminoma makes up about half of testicular germ cell tumours and peaks in the fourth decade. It resembles primordial germ cells, grows as a homogeneous grey-white mass and spreads mainly to retroperitoneal nodes. Some tumours contain syncytiotrophoblast cells that raise hCG modestly. Seminoma is very sensitive to radiation and chemotherapy. The spermatocytic tumour is a different, rare tumour of older men that does not arise from GCNIS and seldom metastasizes.

## Structure

- Sheets of fried-egg-like cells with distinct borders and glycogen-rich clear cytoplasm.
- Fibrous septa carry T lymphocytes; granulomatous reaction may obscure the tumour.
- Anaplastic or high-mitotic variants behave like classic seminoma.

## Seminoma vs spermatocytic tumour

| Tumour | Age | Origin | Histology | Behaviour |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Classic seminoma](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/testicular-cancer/) | Fourth decade | Germ cell neoplasia in situ | Uniform clear cells, lymphocytes, granulomas; OCT3/4 positive | Spreads to retroperitoneal nodes; very treatable |
| Spermatocytic tumour | Older men | Not from GCNIS | Small, medium and large cells; no lymphocytes; OCT3/4 negative | Rarely metastasizes |

## Clinical notes

- Stage for stage, seminoma has an excellent prognosis.
- A rise in AFP during follow-up points to a nonseminomatous component.

## Memory aid

Clear eggs on a plate with lymphocytes for garnish: seminoma.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## What inflammatory cells are characteristic in seminoma?

Lymphocytes in the fibrous septa, sometimes with granulomas.

## Can a pure seminoma raise AFP?

No. AFP elevation indicates a nonseminomatous component, usually yolk sac tumour.

## How does the spermatocytic tumour differ from seminoma?

It occurs in older men, does not arise from GCNIS, has three cell sizes, lacks lymphocytes and rarely spreads.

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## Elsewhere in DurgiPedia

- [Granulomatous inflammation: caseating vs non-caseating, the causes to know](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/granulomatous-inflammation-caseating-vs-non-caseating-the-causes-to-know/)
- [Immunohistochemistry: the principle and the markers to know](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/immunohistochemistry-the-principle-and-the-markers-to-know/)

## Connections

## Related 3

- [Testicular germ cell tumours: overview](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/testicular-germ-cell-tumours-overview/)
- [Nonseminomatous germ cell tumours](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/nonseminomatous-germ-cell-tumours/)
- [Immunohistochemistry: the principle and the markers to know](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/immunohistochemistry-the-principle-and-the-markers-to-know/)

## Related conditions 2

- [Testicular cancer](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/testicular-cancer/)
- [Cryptorchidism (undescended testis)](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/cryptorchidism/)

[← All of general pathology](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/)

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](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563159/) (StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf), 2024); [Testicular Cancer Treatment](https://www.cancer.gov/types/testicular/patient/testicular-treatment-pdq) (National Cancer Institute, 2025).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/seminoma-and-spermatocytic-tumour/