[Autoimmune granulomatous orchitis: its incidence in surgical specimens]

We report on three patients (28, 55 and 87 years old) with autoimmune granulomatous orchitis (AGO). Of a total of 182 surgical specimens examined, AGO accounted 1.64%. Clinically, it can be misdiagnosed as tuberculosis or tumor of the testis since most patients have a previous history of trauma, respectively. With respect to its pathogenesis, the lipid fraction of spermatozoa may be responsible for its characteristic granulomatous pattern.