Testicular tumor ultrasound characteristics and association with histopathology

This study was undertaken to develop knowledge of ultrasound characteristics of germ cell testicular neoplasms, associate these characteristics with histopathologic tumor types, and lay a foundation for study of ultrasound findings in benign versus malignant testicular lesions.

The medical records and ultrasound images of 107 patients with testicular tumor were reviewed. Demographic and clinical characteristics and ultrasound findings of patients with seminoma were compared to those of patients with non-seminoma.

55 patients had seminoma (1 bilateral) and 52 non-seminoma. Ultrasound images of seminoma were more often hypoechoic, homogeneous, and lobulated than those of non-seminoma (p < 0.001). Images of non-seminoma were more often heterogeneous and cystic (p < 0.001). There was no difference in tumor size, multiplicity, presence of calcium or lesion margination. Testicular microlithiasis was more common in seminoma (p < 0.02).

Careful analysis of ultrasound images can permit an educated assessment of testicular tumor histopathology.