[Malignant mesothelioma of the testes].
BACKGROUND
Malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis is a very rare malignant tumour. The prevalence of mesothelioma is about 1 : 1 000 000: Only 1 % have their origin in the tunica vaginalis testis with a 5-year survival of less than 5 %. About 80 cases have been reported in the literature. In 41 % of these cases exposure to asbestos for many years was determines.


METHODS
We report on a 76-year-old patient who presented with an atypical hydrocele testis. Intraoperatively, thickened testicular walls and an crystalline lawn adjacent to the tunica vaginalis testis were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasonography showing snow flurries together with cloudy hydrocele fluid and visible crystal particles and thickened testicular walls may help to identify a mesothelioma of the testicular walls. Intraoperative frozen section and a high inguinal orchiectomy is the operative method of choice.
Hatzinger
M
M
Urologische Universitätsklinik, Klinikum Mannheim gGmbH, Fakultät für Klinische Medizin Mannheim der Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68135 Mannheim. martin.hatzinger@uro.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Häcker
A
A
Langbein
S
S
Grobholz
R
R
Alken
P
P
D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D009919:Orchiectomy; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
D001194:Asbestos