Metastatic testicular seminoma--a case report

Abstract

We present the case of a 42-year-old male who presented with a hot, tender swelling in the left supraclavicular fossa. He was pyrexial on presentation with a mildly elevated leucocyte count of 12.4x10(9)/l. Clinical examination, including full ear, nose and throat assessment, proved unremarkable. The medical history revealed that 2 years earlier the patient had been diagnosed with a testicular seminoma for which he underwent a right inguinal orchidectomy and abdominal radiotherapy. CT scan highlighted a 6 cm para-laryngeal mass, of mixed attenuation, with an adjacent region of inflammation. Overall appearance was suggestive of an infective mass. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology revealed a metastatic seminomatous deposit. Imaging of the chest and abdomen revealed this as the only site of metastasis. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy, and is responding well. We review the pathology of testicular seminoma. This case highlights the myriad of pathologies that may present as a lump in the neck.