[Leydig cell tumors in adults. Value of ultrasonic diagnosis. Apropos of 7 tumors].

Leydig cell tumors arise from the gonadal stroma and represent two or three per cent of all testicular tumors. They may occur at any age in contrast with germinal tumor. In adults, about 20 per cent occur with endocrine disturbance: gynecomastia or impotence. Ten per cent are malignant and few cases are bilateral. They are small, yellow, brown tumor. Reinke's crystals are observed in 50 per cent and are pathognomonic. They present no necrosis no hemorrhage, no cyst. A benign tumor is difficult to distinguish from a malignant tumor. A vascular and capsular invasion, an infiltrative margin, a bilateral or multiple tumors must evoke a malignant case. Cryptorchidism, even corrected seems to be partly responsible in tumor induction. Ultrasonography can help for a precocious and reliable diagnosis of tumors, specially in case of occult tumors (2 cases). It also helps to survey the controlateral testis (bilateral tumor: 1 case).