Well-differentiated Papillary Mesothelioma of the Tunica Vaginalis

Our plain-English summary of Well-differentiated Papillary Mesothelioma of the Tunica Vaginalis, by W.K. Tan, M.Y. Tan, H.M. Tan, et al (Urology, 2016).

The study

• Authors: W.K. Tan, M.Y. Tan, H.M. Tan, R. Pathmanathan, W.P. Tan
• Journal: Urology
• Published: 2016;90:e7-8
• Type of article: Case report
• Cited by: 5 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

A 39-year-old man presented with painless scrotal swelling for 2 months. He denied any asbestos exposure but worked with wall and ceiling plaster. Physical exam revealed a large right scrotum which transilluminated. Scrotal ultrasonography revealed a large right hydrocele and a polypoidal mass along the anterior wall of the scrotum. Magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen and computed tomography of the chest showed no metastases. He underwent a right inguinal scrotal exploration and wide excision of tunica vaginalis and a partial epididymectomy. Pathology revealed well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis. The patient had an uneventful recovery.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

In plain English

This is a report of a single case. A 39-year-old man had painless scrotal swelling for 2 months. He denied any asbestos exposure but said he worked with wall and ceiling plaster. The article does not say whether that plaster contained asbestos. Ultrasound showed a large fluid collection (hydrocele) on the right side and a mass along the front wall of the scrotum. He had surgery to explore the right scrotum, with wide removal of the tunica vaginalis and partial removal of the epididymis. Pathology showed well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis, measuring 4 cm by 3 cm by 1.5 cm, with clear margins. MRI of the abdomen and CT of the chest showed no spread of the tumor. He recovered without problems. Citing earlier publications, the authors described this tumor type as one of uncertain malignant potential. They discussed how it is told apart from mesothelial hyperplasia and malignant mesothelioma. The authors stated that this patient had the largest such tumor described in the literature to date. A single case does not show how often this tumor occurs.

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 (single patient)
• Who was studied: One 39-year-old man with painless scrotal swelling of 2 months' duration; where and when he was treated is not stated
• Exposure: He denied any asbestos exposure but reported working with wall and ceiling plaster; the article does not say whether the plaster contained asbestos
• Main results:
  • Ultrasound showed a large right hydrocele and a polypoidal mass along the anterior wall of the scrotum; the figure legend gives the ultrasound mass size as 2.79 cm by 1.95 cm by 2.49 cm
  • He was treated with right inguinal scrotal exploration, wide excision of the tunica vaginalis and partial epididymectomy
  • Pathology showed well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma (WDPM) of the tunica vaginalis, 4 cm by 3 cm by 1.5 cm, with clear margins
  • Imaging of the abdomen and chest showed no metastases, and the patient had an uneventful recovery
• The authors' conclusion: The authors stated that this patient had the largest WDPM described in the literature to date

Topics

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

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Well-Differentiated Papillary Mesothelioma, Tunica Vaginalis, Asbestos Exposure, Hydrocele, Pathology.

Related studies

• Well-Differentiated Papillary Mesothelioma of the Tunica Vaginalis: Case Report and Systematic Review of Literature — W.K. Tan, M.Y. Tan, et al. (2016)
• Well differentiated (benign) papillary mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis — R. Chetty (1992)
• Case Report of a Well-Differentiated Papillary Mesothelioma of the Tunica Vaginalis in an Undescended Testis With Review of Literature — P. Parcesepe, S. Sina, et al. (2016)
• Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis testis of unknown malignant potential: Sonographic appearance — K.W.S. Ko, K.S. Tse, et al. (2018)
• Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis: a case study and review of the literature — S. Erdogan, A. Acikalin, et al. (2014)
• Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma — K.J. Butnor, T.A. Sporn, et al. (2001)

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