Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis: a rare malignancy mimicking more common inguino-scrotal masses

Our plain-English summary of Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis: a rare malignancy mimicking more common inguino-scrotal masses, by P.J. Schure, K.C. van Dalen, H.M. Ruitenberg, et al (Journal of Surgical Oncology, 2006).

The study

• Authors: P.J. Schure, K.C. van Dalen, H.M. Ruitenberg, T. van Dalen
• Journal: Journal of Surgical Oncology
• Published: 2006;94(2):162-4; discussion 161
• Type of article: Case report
• Cited by: 10 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

Malignant pleural mesotheliomas are rare malignancies associated with asbestos exposure and these tumors are infamous for their poor prognosis. Mesotheliomas in other body areas are much rarer. They may occur in the abdominal cavity and also in the inguinal region. In the latter area they are commonly confused with much commoner benign conditions. We present three cases of mesotheliomas in the tunica vaginalis testis.

Copyright (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

In plain English

This case report described three men treated in Utrecht, the Netherlands, for malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis. The authors describe the tunica vaginalis as an outpouching of the lining of the abdominal cavity. None of the three men reported a history of asbestos exposure. A 45-year-old man had a hydrocele, and ultrasound also showed small growths; biopsies showed mesothelioma. The other two tumors were first taken for something else: testicular cancer in a 35-year-old, and an inguinal hernia in a 26-year-old. The first man had a left hemiscrotectomy and no signs of recurrence four years later. The second man's tumor spread extensively in the chest and abdomen after surgery and radiotherapy; he died 2 months later despite palliative chemotherapy. The third man was also found to have mesothelioma inside the abdomen. After further surgery elsewhere, he had no signs of recurrent disease 18 months later. The authors concluded that when a tunica vaginalis tumor turns out to be malignant mesothelioma, CT scanning of the chest and abdomen and staging laparoscopy should precede mutilating surgery.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: case report (three cases)
• Who was studied: Three men aged 45, 35 and 26 years treated for mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis at Diakonessenhuis Utrecht, The Netherlands; treatment dates not given
• Exposure: None of the three patients reported asbestos exposure
• Main results:
  • Patient 1 (45 years): ultrasound showed a hydrocele and small excrescences on its surface
  • Patient 1: biopsies of the small tumors showed mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis
  • Patient 1: no signs of recurrence four years after left hemiscrotectomy
  • Patient 2 (35 years): testicular carcinoma was suspected, and final pathology showed malignant mesothelioma. After surgery, re-excision and radiotherapy, the tumor spread extensively in the thoracic and abdominal cavities. He died 2 months later despite palliative chemotherapy.
  • Patient 3 (26 years): operated on for an assumed inguinal hernia. Malignant mesothelioma originating from the tunica vaginalis was found, and laparoscopy confirmed intra-abdominal mesothelioma. After peritonectomy and intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion at another institution, there were no signs of recurrent disease 18 months later.
  • Two of the three patients had mesothelioma inside the abdomen at presentation or very shortly afterwards
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that when a tumor of the tunica vaginalis testis turns out to be malignant mesothelioma, the abdominal cavity should be examined for spread. In their view, CT scanning of the thorax and abdomen and staging laparoscopy should come before mutilating surgery.

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Mesothelioma.

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Mesothelioma, Tunica Vaginalis, Pleural Mesothelioma, Asbestos Exposure, Prognosis.

Related studies

• Malignant mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis: a rare case and review of literature — M. Drevinskaite, A. Patasius, et al. (2020)
• Malignant Mesothelioma of the Tunica Vaginalis Testis-A Malignancy Associated With Asbestos Exposure and Trauma: A Case Report and Literature Review — A.A. Baqui, N.A. Boire, et al. (2019)
• Malignant mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis testis: Report of a very rare case with review of the literature — E. Trenti, S.M. Palermo, et al. (2018)
• Extremely rare tumour--malignant mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis testis — T. Jankovichova, M. Jankovich, et al. (2015)
• Papillary serous carcinoma of the tunica vaginalis testis — P. Becerra, M.A. Isaac, et al. (2000)
• Pre-operative diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis testis by hydrocele fluid cytology — S.C. Gupta, A.K. Gupta, et al. (1998)

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