title: Nodular proliferation of calcifying connective tissue in the rete testis: a study of three cases.
abstract: We report the first description of a bilateral rete testis lesion. The lesion was found in three adult men with histories of myocardium infarct or hemorrhage. The histologic study of the rete testis in these men revealed nodular sessile or pediculate formations which protruded into the rete testis channels. These polypoid formations consisted of an axis of connective tissue covered by a flattened epithelium. The axis contained a variable number of fibroblasts, areas with fibrin-like material, and small to large calcium deposits. Inflammatory infiltrates were neither observed in the rete testis nor in the testicular parenchyma. The testicular pattern varied from seminiferous tubules with complete spermatogenesis (two cases) to tubules with Sertoli cells and a few spermatogonia, surrounded by a thickened tunica propia. The term "nodular proliferation of calcifying connective tissue in the rete testis" is proposed to designate this lesion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nistal
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paniagua
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology*; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012152:Rete Testis; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis