OBJECTIVE: To report a case of a mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis and to review the published literature. METHODS / RESULTS: A 61-year-old patient complained of one-month increase of right scrotum size with pain. An ultrasound showed a right hydrocele with a mass attached to the tunica vaginalis. He didn't refer any urological history or known exposure to asbestos. Blood levels of tumor markers (alpha-fetoprotein and beta-HCG) were within normal limits. We performed a radical inguinal orchiectomy with an en-bloc resection of the tunica vaginalis. The pathology described a potentially malignant biphasic mesothelioma. The patient has remained asymptomatic with negative extension studies after 10 years of follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Paratesticular mesotheliomas are rare tumors (approximately 250 cases reported )with uncertain etiology (only 30-40% are associated with asbestos exposure). The age range is between 50-70 years. Its presentation is usually as a scrotal mass with recurrent reactive hydrocele, which may delay early diagnosis. During surgery, intraoperative biopsy is recommended. It is important to do a differential diagnosis with other benign diseases. Treatment is only curative in early stages with radical orchidectomy and resection in-block of the tunica vaginalis. Despite being multidisciplinary, it is not curative in most cases due to rapid local and distant spread.
OBJECTIVE: To report a case of a mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis and to review the published literature. METHODS / RESULTS: A 61-year-old patient complained of one-month increase of right scrotum size with pain. An ultrasound showed a right hydrocele with a mass attached to the tunica vaginalis. He didn't refer any urological history or known exposure to asbestos. Blood levels of tumor markers (alpha-fetoprotein and beta-HCG) were within normal limits. We performed a radical inguinal orchiectomy with an en-bloc resection of the tunica vaginalis. The pathology described a potentially malignant biphasic mesothelioma. The patient has remained asymptomatic with negative extension studies after 10 years of follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Paratesticular mesotheliomas are rare tumors (approximately 250 cases reported )with uncertain etiology (only 30-40% are associated with asbestos exposure). The age range is between 50-70 years. Its presentation is usually as a scrotal mass with recurrent reactive hydrocele, which may delay early diagnosis. During surgery, intraoperative biopsy is recommended. It is important to do a differential diagnosis with other benign diseases. Treatment is only curative in early stages with radical orchidectomy and resection in-block of the tunica vaginalis. Despite being multidisciplinary, it is not curative in most cases due to rapid local and distant spread.
Authors: M Bertolotto; I Boulay-Coletta; R Butini; S M Dudea; N Grenier; G Oltmanns; P Ramchandani; M W Stein; M Valentino; Lorenzo E Derchi Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2015-06-27 Impact factor: 5.315
Authors: Madhavi Patnana; Brinda Rao Korivi; Catherine E Devine; Silvana Faria; Victor Prieto; Merrick I Ross; Chaan S Ng Journal: BJR Case Rep Date: 2018-02-22
Authors: Luigi Vimercati; Domenica Cavone; Maria Celeste Delfino; Luigi De Maria; Antonio Caputi; Giovanni Maria Ferri; Gabriella Serio Journal: Environ Health Date: 2019-08-30 Impact factor: 5.984