Testicular and paratesticular neoplasms in patients 60 years of age and older.

Abstract

Testicular and paratesticular neoplasms from 50 patients 60 years of age or older were assessed with respect to histologic type, clinical findings and outcome. Neoplasms of germ cell origin comprised 24% of the series; there were ten seminomas and two teratocarcinomas. The seminomas were palpable many months before diagnosis and were larger than the other neoplasms. Only two deaths could be attributed to their dissemination. Both teratocarcinomas metastasized and caused death. There were five gonadal stromal neoplasms (10%), one Sertoli cell tumor, three interstitial cell tumors and one undifferentiated stromal tumor. None of the neoplasms recurred or metastasized. Eleven neoplasms (22%) were of supportive tissue or paratesticular origin and six of these arose from muscle—one leiomyoma, two leiomyosarcomas and three rhabdomyo-sarcomas. The other tumors were two malignant mesotheliomas, one fibroma, one fibrosarcoma and one carcinoma of the epididymis. The lymphoreticular neoplasms were the most common lesion in this series and presented as primary testicular tumors in 22 patients (44%). In five patients asynchronous tumors appeared in the other testes. All but two neoplasms were reticulum cell sarcomas. All patients for whom survival information was available died with disseminated disease.