Metastatic tumours of the testes
Grignon, D.J.; Shum, D.T.; Hayman, W.P.
Canadian Journal of Surgery. Journal Canadien de Chirurgie 29(5): 359-361
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-428X PMID: 3756659 Document Number: 270792
Metastatic tumours of the testes are uncommon, making up little more than 2% of all testicular neoplasms. The most frequent primary sites are the lung and prostate. Only rarely do these lesions present clinically either as the first sign of malignant disease or as a complicating factor during the course of known disease. The authors present two cases illustrating both of these occurrences. The first, a man with carcinoma of the common bile duct, initially had a mass in the testicle and the second, a patient with carcinoma of the prostate, had his clinical course complicated by a symptomatic metastasis to the right testis. The authors also reviewed their local autopsy experience and identified 16 more cases. Metastases were grossly visible in 38% (6 of 16). The most frequent primary sites were lung (four cases), stomach (four) and prostate (three). Routes of spread as well as possible explanations for the low incidence are discussed.