title: Cystic dysplasia of the rete testis: report of two cases and review of the literature.
abstract: Cystic dysplasia of the rete testis (CDT) is a rare congenital defect, characterized by multiple irregular cystic spaces in the mediastinum of the testis that may involve the whole gonad. A review of the literature has shown 32 reported cases, the majority of which were associated with ipsilateral renal malformations (agenesis/cystic dysplasia). Pathogenesis may be attributed to an early insult involving mesonephric duct development. Although treatment is surgical, when feasible, a conservative or nonoperative approach is suggested. Here we report two cases, one in a 3-year-old boy and one in a 10-day-old newborn. Concomitant cystic dysplasia of ipsilateral kidney was present in the former patient, while CDT was the solitary finding in the latter patient. Orchiectomy was performed in both patients, for extensive gonad involvement in the older boy and for suspected gonad torsion in the newborn patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital (Research Institute), Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca Diomedi
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Camassei
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Francalanci
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Capozza
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boldrini
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000473:pathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003560:Cysts / Q000151:congenital / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000002:abnormalities; D008297:Male; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D012152:Rete Testis / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D018396:Mucin-1; D007633:Keratins