Spermatocytic tumor

Spermatocytic tumor
Other names	Spermatocytic tumour
Micrograph of a spermatocytic tumor. H&E stain.
Specialty	Pathology, urology

Spermatocytic tumor, previously called spermatocytic seminoma, is a

The name of the tumour comes from the similarity (under the

Signs and symptoms

Spermatocytic tumor is a rare tumour, making up only one to two percent of all testicular germ cell tumours. Men presenting with this tumour are generally 50 to 60 years old, and its occurrence is rare in men under 30 years old. Most present with slow, painless testicular enlargement, which may involve both testes.^[1]

Diagnosis

Spermatocytic tumors are diagnosed based on tissue from orchiectomy (or partial orchiectomy), done for a lesion suspicious for cancer on medical imaging.^{[citation needed]}

The

The cells are generally packed into nodules, and have a loose, sheet-like arrangement that is commonly interrupted by interstitial oedema. Unlike classical seminoma, fibrous septation and lymphocytic infiltrates are not seen. Cells undergoing mitosis are common, as are cells undergoing apoptosis.^[1]

Intratubular growth of spermatocytic tumor can be seen, however there is no

Rarely, spermatocytic tumors may show sarcomatoid differentiation, most commonly as undifferentiated spindled cells intermingled within the typical-appearing spermatocytic tumor cells. Rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation has also been described.^[1]

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  Micrograph of a spermatocytic tumor. H&E stain.

Relation to seminoma

Spermatocytic tumor is not considered a subtype of

Unlike classical seminoma, spermatocytic tumors rarely metastasise, so radical orchidectomy alone is sufficient treatment, and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy are generally not required.^[1]

References