[Occult primary testicular tumor or burnt testicular tumor. Apropos of a case].

OBJECTIVES

A case of impalpable primary testicular tumor or burned out testicular tumor is described, with special reference to its unusual form of presentation and histopathological characteristics. The rarity of this tumor type and the difficulties encountered in making the differential diagnosis prompted us to report on this case.

METHODS/RESULTS: A case of impalpable primary testicular tumor is described in a patient with normal tests on physical examination, who had consulted for progressive respiratory failure from pulmonary metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

Impalpable primary testicular tumor should be suspected in patients with extragonadal germ cell tumor and normal testes on physical examination. We underscore the importance of the tumor markers and ultrasound in making the diagnosis.