Pathology Cheat Sheet
Classify the Testicular Mass
Testicular tumours for NEET-PG: seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac Schiller-Duval AFP, choriocarcinoma hCG, teratoma, and cryptorchidism cancer risk.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Classify the Testicular Mass
Testicular tumours for NEET-PG: seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac Schiller-Duval AFP, choriocarcinoma hCG, teratoma, and cryptorchidism cancer risk.
The classification and pathology of testicular tumours and the complications of cryptorchidism.
High-yield lines
- Most testicular tumours are germ cell tumours and present as a painless testicular mass.
- Seminoma is the most common germ cell tumour and shows sheets of clear cells with a lymphocytic infiltrate.
- Seminoma is radiosensitive and has a good prognosis.
- Embryonal carcinoma is an aggressive non-seminomatous tumour with a poorly differentiated appearance.
- Yolk sac tumour is the most common testicular tumour in young children and shows Schiller-Duval bodies.
- Yolk sac tumour secretes alpha-fetoprotein.
- Choriocarcinoma secretes beta-hCG and spreads early by the bloodstream.
- Teratoma contains tissues from multiple germ layers and is often malignant in adult males.
- Elevated alpha-fetoprotein excludes pure seminoma because seminomas do not raise AFP.
- Leydig cell tumours may secrete androgens and cause precocious puberty or gynaecomastia.
- Cryptorchidism is failure of testicular descent and increases the risk of germ cell tumours and infertility.
- Cryptorchidism shows tubular atrophy and hyalinisation, and orchidopexy reduces but does not eliminate cancer risk.
Mapped competency codes
- PA29.1
- PA29.5
Continue into the full chapter
This summary maps to PA29-male-genital-tract.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common testicular germ cell tumour?
Seminoma, which shows sheets of clear cells with a lymphocytic infiltrate, is radiosensitive, and has a good prognosis.
Which testicular tumour secretes alpha-fetoprotein?
Yolk sac tumour, the most common testicular tumour in young children, which shows Schiller-Duval bodies and elevated AFP.
Why does elevated AFP exclude pure seminoma?
Because pure seminomas do not produce alpha-fetoprotein, so a raised AFP indicates a non-seminomatous germ cell component.
What are the complications of cryptorchidism?
Increased risk of germ cell tumours and infertility, with tubular atrophy on histology, and orchidopexy reduces but does not eliminate the cancer risk.
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