Metastatic Carcinoma to the Testis - A Mini Review

Abstract

Metastatic carcinomas to the testis are extremely rare and have been reported only in autopsy series or case reports. However, when they occur, the metastatic tumors in the testis are usually unilateral and solitary, may have overlap growth patterns and cytological features with primary testicular tumors, including those of rete/epididymis origin, mesothelial origin and Sertoli cell tumor. It will make the diagnosis very challenging, especially when there is no known history of a primary tumor in other sites. Metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma counts nearly half of the overall metastatic carcinoma in the testis, followed by colorectal carcinoma and renal cell carcinoma. Here, we review our experience and summarize the reported cases from the literature, to emphasize some of the unusual aspects of metastatic carcinoma to the testis, and discuss the main differential diagnoses for this rare condition. Awareness of the features of these tumors, consideration of the possibility of metastasis and appropriate ancillary studies are the keys to the accurate diagnosis of these cases.