Conservative parenchymal surgery in testicular tumors

Orchiectomy is the most widely used surgical technique in testicular tumors (TT). However, according to tumor size, tumor markers, and histology, tumorectomy can be considered as the technique of choice, since these tumors are mostly benign. We present our experience with conservative surgery.

A retrospective study of 21 TT cases in 19 patients under 14 years of age treated in our healthcare facility from 1998 to 2018 was carried out. The following variables were analyzed: age, laterality, histological type, evolution, presence or absence of recurrence, and ultrasound and analytical follow-up. The therapeutic attitude used was reviewed while assessing the possibility of testicular preservation in selected patients.

Conservative surgery was performed in 9 TT cases in 7 patients (2 bilateral cases). Mean age was 6 years (0-13 years). 86% of cases started as an asymptomatic scrotal mass. No significant differences were found in terms of laterality. Tumor markers were negative before and after surgery, except in an infant with high alpha-fetoprotein, which was normalized in the postoperative period. The histological study diagnosed 7 stromal TTs (three Leydig cell stromal TTs, one bilateral Sertoli cell stromal TT, one hamartoma, and one fibroma) and 2 germ cell TTs (bilateral epidermoid cyst). Evolution was favorable in all cases, without clinical or ultrasound recurrence.

Conservative surgery of the testicular parenchyma using tumorectomy can be the first therapeutic option in benign tumors and in selected patients with bilateral tumor, since it allows future hormonal and reproductive function to be preserved.