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Clinicopathological Study of Nine Cases

Louis H. Honoré, MB, ChB, FRCP(C)

Arch Surg. 1978;113(7):814-816.

Abstract
• Nine cases of peritesticular fibrosis initially appeared to be enlargement of the testes. Seven patients underwent orchiectomy and two had biopsy specimens taken of the grossly thickened tunica albuginea. In six patients, a hydrocele was present with intramural fibrosis and minimal chronic inflammation. Active epididymitis and chronic interstitial orchitis were present in two patients, with some spread of the inflammation into the fibrotic peritesticular tissues. One case, without associated hydrocele or epididymitis, showed dense fibrosis of the peritesticular tissues with focal edema, lymphangiectasia, and minimal perivascular round cell infiltration.

This clinicopathological entity of diffuse peritesticular fibrosis is an unrecognized cause of benign testicular enlargement. The hypothesis is advanced that the primary process is a congenital hypoplasia of the peritesticular lymphatics progressing at various speeds into a state of chronic lymphedema and end stage noninflammatory fibrosis.

(Arch Surg 113:814-816, 1978)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Pathology, Vancouver General Hospital, British Columbia, Canada. Dr Honoré is now with the Department of Laboratories, Grace General Hospital, St John's, Newfoundland, Canada.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Jan 18, 1978.

Reprint requests to Department of Laboratories, Grace General Hospital, 241 LeMarchant Rd, St John's Newfoundland, Canada AIE 1P9.