Carcinoid tumours of the testis.
OBJECTIVE
To review previous reports of carcinoid (an endocrine tumour mostly of the gastrointestinal tract) tumours of the testis.


METHODS
Carcinoid tumours of the testis are rare and can be divided into primary carcinoid (group 1), testicular metastasis from another location (group 2) and carcinoid within a testicular teratoma (group 3). A case of testicular carcinoid within our clinic prompted us to review previous reports; all the cases found were assessed for patient and tumour characteristics, diagnostic tools used, treatment and prognosis.


RESULTS
In all, 62 cases were assessed and divided into groups 1 (44 patients), 2 (six) and 3 (12), respectively. Seven patients in group 1 developed metastases. A wide variety of diagnostic tools was used to search for other tumour sites. All patients were treated with orchidectomy. Three patients with a primary carcinoid were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (two) or radiotherapy (one), with unknown results. All but one of the nine patients who died were known to have metastasis, either from a primary testicular carcinoid or testicular metastases from an intestinal carcinoid.


CONCLUSIONS
When a testicular carcinoid tumour is discovered, other tumour sites should be excluded. The most useful diagnostic tools for this purpose seem to be urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid measurement, somatostatin receptor scintigraphy, computed tomography and video-capsule endoscopy. Localized testicular carcinoid tumours have an excellent prognosis after orchidectomy.
Stroosma
Otto B
OB
Department of Urology, Atrium Medical Centre, Heerlen, The Netherlands. stroosma@hotmail.com
Delaere
Karl P J
KP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid