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Neuroblastoma as a prominent component of a mixed germ cell tumor of testis
Author(s) -
SerranoOlmo Juan,
Tang ChikKwun,
Seidmon E. James,
Ellison Neil E.,
Elfenbein I. Bruce,
Ming PenMing L.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19931201)72:11<3271::aid-cncr2820721123>3.0.co;2-x
Subject(s) - neuroblastoma , pathology , primitive neuroectodermal tumor , neoplasm , germ cell tumors , germ cell , h&e stain , immunohistochemistry , biology , enolase , atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor , staining , medicine , chemotherapy , cell culture , biochemistry , genetics , gene
Background. Primitive neuroectodermal tissue in teratomas of testis has been reported in the literature. A mixed germ cell tumor of testis with a prominent neuroblastoma component dictating the clinical behavior was found to be unique. Methods. Tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, cytogenetic, and flow cytometric analyses were performed on the primitive neuroectodermal component of the testicular mass. Follow‐up results at 2.5 years are included. Results. The microscopic findings on hematoxylin and eosin slides showed cells composing the majority of the neoplasm to have features of neuroblastoma. The immunohistochemical stains showed positivity for neuronspecific enolase in the cells comprising the neuroblastoma, and transmission electron microscopic study corroborated these findings by demonstrating microtubules and rare membrane‐limited, dense‐core granules in the cytoplasm. Flow cytometry showed a hypertetraploid population with a large aneuploid DNA content. Cytogenetics revealed a hypertriploid modal number of 74 chromosomes. The clinical features were dictated by the neuroblastoma component in a fashion similar to that of adult neuroblastomas and responded to the chemotherapeutic regimen designed for treating neuroblastoma. Conclusions. The neuroblastoma component proved to be more aggressive than the other elements of this neoplasm. This finding suggests that mixed germ cell tumors showing a large neuroblastoma component should be treated promptly and aggressively with chemotherapy.