[Non palpable testicular tumors. Retrospective series]

To report our experience in 13 cases with nonpalpable testicular tumors and review the literature.

From 1998 to 2012, 13 patients were diagnosed with nonpalpable testicular tumors. The data base was performed prospectively, and analyzed retrospectively. We evaluated demographic data, clinical presentation, ultrasound tumor features, tumor markers, frozen and final histopathological findings. All patients were also evaluated with serum tumor markers and the surgical approach was inguinal.

The mean age was 46.4 years and the most frequent clinical presentation were orchialgia in six patients (46.1%) and infertility in three (23%). All masses were hypoechoic with an average tumor size of 8.9 mm. The serum tumor markers were negative in all patients and the final histopathological findings were six seminomas, two embryonal carcinomas, one seminiferous tubules atrophy, a segmental testicular infarction, a Sertoli cell tumor and a Leydig cell tumor.

Nonpalpable testicular masses were benign in almost half of the cases; therefore, we recommend using the frozen section pathology as a tool to perform conservative surgery in selective cases.