Primary Malignant Lymphoma of the Testis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A clinicopathologic study is presented on 32 cases of malignant lymphoma localized to the testis without previous or synchronous involvement by malignant lymphoma elsewhere. The disease primarily affects elderly men, all but 2 patients being more than 50 yr old. Testicular enlargement, usually painless and of short duration, was the main presenting symptom. Synchronous bilateral involvement was present in 2 cases and asynchronous in 3. Although 23 patients became affected by generalized malignant lymphoma within 6-12 mo. of diagnosis and died of the disease within 2 yr of orchiectomy, irrespective of therapy, 5 patients survived 2 1/2-15 yr without evidence of disease. The differentiation between the 2 types of disease is difficult but a 2-yr postoperative survival free of disease is a favorable sign, while rapid dissemination indicates poor prognosis. Histologically, hyalinization and nodularity, and the presence of disease confined to the testis are favorable prognostic features. The presence of plasma cell differentiation in the tumor cells was noted in 30% of the cases, suggesting that many testicular lymphomas are composed of B[bone marrow]-derived lymphoid cells. Although most malignant lymphomas of the testis represent a primary manifestation of generalized disease, primary malignant lymphoma of the testis is a specific entity with different behavior and better prognosis, although involvement of the contralateral testis and disseminated disease may supervene after a long interval free of disease.