Gastro-intestinal bleeding and malignancy of the testis

Three cases of gastro-intestinal bleeding caused by metastasis of a testicular tumour to the duodenum are described. The report illustrates that, particularly in young patients, the possibility of a primary tumour in the testis should be considered when a tumour mass is found in the upper abdomen, even if other symptoms suggestive of primary gastro-intestinal disorders, such as melaena and haematemesis, are also present. As primary malignancies of the small intestine are rare, a presumptive diagnosis of anaplastic duodenal carcinoma should always arouse the suspicion of metastatic rather than primary growth.