An Interstitial-Cell Tumor of the Testis with Hypergenitalism in a Child of Five Years

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Abstract
This report deals with a ease of interstitial-cell tumor of the testis in a child five years of age. We have been able to find in the literature only two reports of similar tumors in children, although several are recorded as developing after puberty. In the case here recorded the tumor was removed soon after it was recognized and before complete sexual maturity. Hyperplasia of the Interstitial Cells: In children interstitial cells are scarce, but in adults they are numerous. In old individuals, especially if the seminiferous tubules are atrophic, the interstitial cells may be notably increased. An increase in their number has frequently been observed in atrophic testes, especially in undescended testes. Fig. 1 shows a section of a small undescended testis removed from the inguinal canal of a man forty years of age. The seminiferous tubules are atrophic and the interstitial cells are prominent. Apparently the interstitial cells may increase when for any reason the seminiferous tubules fail to develop or become atrophic; but such hyperplasia does not occur in cases of orchitis with destruction of the tubules from inflammatory overgrowth of the intertubular connective tissue. Dürck, in 1907, described four cases of diffuse hyperplasia of the interstitial cells in atrophic testes in adults. In one instance the testes were undescended and in 3 they were in the scrotum. In three cases the condition was bilateral.

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