Cysts of the testicular parenchyma and tunica albuginea

Five cases of cysts of the tunica albuginea and two cases of cysts of the testicular parenchyma are described. The cysts of the albuginea were located in the anterior, lateral, and inferior faces of the testis (distant from the epididymis) and covered by a thin albuginea. They extended toward the testicular parenchyma or toward the tunica vaginalis. Their epithelial lining varied from low cuboidal to columnar and consisted of ciliated or nonciliated cells. These cysts were probably of mesothelial origin. The cysts of the testicular parenchyma were also located distant from the mediastinum testis and were not in contact with the albuginea. Their epithelial lining consisted of flattened, cuboidal, nonciliated cells. The origin of the cysts of the testicular parenchyma is not clear. In one case the occurrence of spermatozoa in the cyst lumen and connections with seminiferous tubules suggests an origin in the rete testis.