[Testicular and paratesticular tumors in prepubertal children]

To describe our experience in testicular and paratesticular tumors during the prepubertal stage, focusing especially on its character of benignity/malignancy and surgical treatment used.

Retrospective review of all testicular tumors in children under 12 years diagnosed and treated in our clinical setting from 1998-2015. Data on their presentation, study and management were collected.

17 children with prepubertal testicular tumors were identified. The clinical presentation as palpable testicular mass occurred in 12 cases (70.5%). Levels of tumor markers (alpha-fetoprotein and βhCG) were only increased alpha-fetoprotein in two cases. In the histopathological study, 64.7% of the tumors were benign (five mature teratomas, four Leydig cells tumors, one immature teratoma and one sexual cords-stromal tumor). Malignant tumors were three rhabdomyosarcoma (17.6%), two yolk-sac tumors (11.8%) and one Burkitt lymphoma (5.9%). The mean age of benign was 5.9 years old and malignant 2.9 years old (p=0.68). From neoplastic lesions nine were non-germline (53%) and eight germline (47%). In the management testis-sparing surgery was performed in six benign tumors, and orchiectomy in five benign tumors and in all malignant tumors except lymphoma which received chemotherapy.

Benign primary testicular and paratesticular tumors are more frequent in prepubertals and testis-sparing surgery is indicated by inguinal approach.