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SOME ASPECTS OF THE SURGICAL PATHOLOGY OF THE TESTIS 1
Author(s) -
Wyndham Norman
Publication year - 1947
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.111
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 0004-8682
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1947.tb02966.x
Subject(s) - medicine , luteinizing hormone , hormone , gonad , gynecology , abnormality , pathology , endocrinology , psychiatry
S ummary 1. An outline of our present knowledge of testicular descent is given, showing the relationship of the gonad to the caudal end of the intermediate cell mass and its early position near the groin. IS T o explanation of the mechanics of descent is attempted. The description is based on work a summary of which has already been published (1943). 2. Some of the salient features of cryptorchidism are outlined–its comparative anatomy, its resultant structural and functional changes. The predisposition of such testes to malignant change is assessed. The incidence and spontaneous rectification of the abnormality lead to a consideration of the necessity of treatment. 3. Changes in hormone production consequent upon various testicular conditions are discussed. Gonadotropic hormone of the pituitary is necessary for testicular development. Abnormally high amounts of androgen are elaborated by interstitial cell tumours. Seminomata produce no hormone, but teratomata produce a luteinizing hormone. In both the last mentioned the pituitary gland produces an increased amount of follicularizing hormone. The relationship of urinary hormone assays to diagnosis and prognosis is outlined. 4. Some features of testicular tumours are mentioned–the age periods, the ease with which such tumours are overlooked, some distinguishing characteristics of seminomata and teratomata, and the difficulties associated with adenocarcinomata.