Testicular microlithiasis--a possibly premalignant condition. Report of five cases and a review of the literature

Abstract

Testicular microlithiasis (TM) is a rare condition characterized by the presence of multiple small intratesticular calcifications. The etiology is unknown but the condition has been observed in a variety of different urological conditions. We report on 5 cases diagnosed by ultrasonography at our departments from 1992 to 1994. A review of the literature plus our present 5 cases gives a total of 124 reported cases of TM. TM was associated with testicular malignancy in 44 patients (35%) of whom 24 (19%) had a seminoma and 20 (16%) a non-seminoma. There were 4 reports of testicular malignancy developing in patients with a prior diagnosis of TM. The condition should be considered premalignant and a careful follow-up of TM patients is advocated.