Spermatocytic seminoma with associated sarcoma of the testis

Abstract

Spermatocytic seminoma is a clinical pathologic distinct entity that has a good prognosis and rarely is associated with other neoplastic elements. Two cases of testicular spermatocytic seminoma with a sarcomatous element are reported. Both patients were older than 40 years and presented with 1-year and 2-year histories of progressive testicular enlargement and recent onset of testicular pain. Histologically, the spermatocytic seminoma in both cases consisted of three distinct cell types as has been previously described. Ultrastructurally, one case showed crystalloid structures similar to the Lubarsch's crystalloids described in spermatogonia of human testis. The sarcomatous component in one case was a rhabdomyosarcoma confirmed by light and by electron microscopic study whereas the second case was a primitive mesenchymal spindle cell sarcoma. Only the sarcomatous element metastasized; metastatic sites included lung and paraaortic lymph nodes in the first patient and lung and liver in the second. Despite aggressive treatment with combined surgery and multiagent chemotherapy, the first patient died within 1 year of diagnosis and the second at 14 months.