Carcinoma of the rete testis: A rare testicular tumor

Carcinoma of the rete testis is a rare malignant tumor which frequently occurs in middle-aged to older patients and has an aggressive biological behavior. We present the case of a 57-year-old man who presented with an ill-defined mass in the right testicle. The patient underwent a radical orchidectomy. Microscopic evaluation showed a neoplasm displaying a complex papillary-cystic architecture, infiltrating the testicular parenchyma. An in situ proliferation of neoplastic cells, with nuclear stratification and scanty cytoplasm was seen at the periphery, within the channels of the rete testis. The tumor infiltrated the tunica albuginea focally without disrupting it completely. Immunohistochemistry was positive for AE1/AE3, CK7, CK34βE12, D2-40, and PAX8. Imaging studies presented no evidence of metastatic disease. These findings are those of a primary rete testis carcinoma. The transition between benign and neoplastic rete testis epithelium served as a helpful diagnostic clue. Metastatic carcinomas from other sites were considered in the differential diagnosis.