Untan I
Ahi Evran University, Training and Research Hospital - Urology, Kirsehir, Turkey.
Acta Endocrinol (Buchar). 2023 Apr-Jun;19(2):252-255. doi: 10.4183/aeb.2023.252. Epub 2023 Oct 27.
Leydig Cell Tumor (LCT) is very rare in adults. It constitutes only 1% of total testicular tumors. LCTs can produce steroid hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Sertoli cells are found in seminiferous tubules, they are part of the blood-testis barrier. Sertoli Cells Only Syndrome (SCOS) also known as germ cell aplasia is characterized by azoospermia in which the seminiferous tubules of testicular biopsy are lined only with Sertoli cells. The expected hormone profile in SCOS is increased FSH with normal T and LH. The expected hormone profile in LCT is increased/normal FSH and LH with increased T or E2. A patient presented to our clinic with a well-circumscribed mass in his right testicle and underwent radical orchiectomy. Tumor markers were negative. Azoospermia was detected in the spermiogram. T and E2 were normal, FSH, and LH were high. Right radical orchiectomy was performed. A combination of LCT and SCOS were reported in pathology results. Azoospermia cases secondary to high androgen levels are frequently encountered in LCTs. As in the case we have presented, two different testicular pathologies may present at the same time and create an unexpected hormonal picture. Such situations can cause the laboratory to mask the clinical truth.
睾丸间质细胞瘤(LCT)在成年人中非常罕见。它仅占睾丸肿瘤总数的1%。LCT可产生雌激素、孕激素和睾酮等甾体激素。支持细胞存在于生精小管中,它们是血睾屏障的一部分。支持细胞仅综合征(SCOS)也称为生殖细胞发育不全,其特征是无精子症,睾丸活检的生精小管仅内衬支持细胞。SCOS患者预期的激素谱是促卵泡生成素(FSH)升高,睾酮(T)和促黄体生成素(LH)正常。LCT患者预期的激素谱是FSH和LH升高/正常,T或雌二醇(E2)升高。一名患者因右侧睾丸出现边界清晰的肿块前来我院就诊,并接受了根治性睾丸切除术。肿瘤标志物为阴性。精液检查发现无精子症。T和E2正常,FSH和LH升高。实施了右侧根治性睾丸切除术。病理结果报告为LCT和SCOS合并存在。LCT中常出现因雄激素水平升高导致的无精子症病例。正如我们所展示的病例,两种不同的睾丸病理情况可能同时出现,并产生意想不到的激素表现。这种情况可能导致实验室掩盖临床真相。