[Non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the testis]

Abstract

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the testis comprise 25-50% of testicular tumors in men over 50 years of age. Using the Rappaport histologic terminology, most testicular lymphomas are of the diffuse histiocytic type. Concomitant involvement of Waldeyer's ring or of paranasal sinuses frequently occurs. Eight patients with primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the testis and 2 patients with a lymphoma which arose in the paranasal sinuses and later involved the testis are reported. The median age of the 10 patients was 57 years. 5 of 8 patients with primary testicular lymphoma were in clinical stage IE. 8 of the 10 patients had diffuse histiocytic lymphoma. Using the Kiel histologic terminology, 4 of these 8 patients had diffuse centroblastic lymphoma and 4 had immunoblastic sarcoma. 5 of the 8 patients with primary testicular lymphoma had complete remission after orchiectomy followed by radio- and/or chemotherapy. The median survival of the 8 patients with primary testicular lymphoma was 30 months. The median survival of patients with complete remission was 44 months and in patients without remission 12 months. Careful staging of patients with testicular lymphoma is of decisive therapeutic and prognostic significance.