[Primary malignant lymphoma of the testis--immunohistochemistry, pathology and prognosis in 16 cases]

Sixteen cases of primary malignant lymphoma of the testis were studied retrospectively by immunohistochemistry and pathology. According to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma classification revised in 1985, these 16 cases were divided into three types: small noncleaved cell type (2 cases), lymphoblastic cell type (2 cases) and polymorphous T cell type (12 cases). All died of widespread dissemination 3-9 months after orchidectomy with an average survival of 7 months. The authors consider that this short survival after orchidectomy is closely related to pathological type, dissemination of micro-foci before or during the operation, physiologico-anatomic characteristics of the testis, initiation of subclinical recessive foci resulting from decline of immune function after operation.