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Leydig cell tumor of the testis: Comparison of histopathological and immunohistochemical features of three azoospermic cases and one malignant case
Author(s) -
Hekimgil Mine,
Altay Barış,
Yakut Başak Doˇganavşargil,
Soydan Saliha,
Özyurt Ceyhun,
Killi Refik
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
pathology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1827
pISSN - 1320-5463
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1827.2001.01278.x
Subject(s) - immunohistochemistry , leydig cell tumor , pathology , cytokeratin , medicine , luteinizing hormone , vimentin , leydig cell , tunica albuginea (penis) , rete testis , hormone , andrology , epididymis , anatomy , penis , sperm
Leydig cell tumors of the testis are rare, mostly presenting as a testicular mass or as endocrinological symptoms. Here, three patients who were admitted for investigation of primary infertility and one patient presenting with a testicular mass are reported. The histological features were reviewed and an immunohistochemical study was done using a panel of antibodies against cytokeratin, vimentin, inhibin A, S‐100, Ki‐67, follicle‐stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, p53, bcl‐2, and c‐erbB2. The latter case (lost during follow up of metastatic disease) demonstrated massive tumor necrosis, extension through the tunica albuginea, and a high mitotic activity and MIB‐1 score. Only this malignant case was bcl‐2 positive. Of the two oncogenic markers studied, none of the cases were positive for c‐erb2, while p53 was positive in more than 50% of cells in the malignant case and in one case of infertility with a large tumor, hemorrhage, focal necrosis and atypical cytological features. We recommend the evaluation of infertile men for Leydig cell tumors, and we believe that a panel of antibodies, including Ki‐67, p53 and bcl‐2, used for immunohistochemical analysis could be of diagnostic value in the identification of malignant and borderline cases of Leydig cell tumor.