[A CASE OF TESTICULAR TUMOR UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR PARTIAL ORCHIECTOMY THROUGH RAPID INTRAOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS]

A 35-year-old man visited a local doctor for continuing analysis of his infertility. Semen analysis revealed azoospermia while an ultrasonography detected a right testicular tumor with a diameter of 10 mm. A blood test was negative for tumor markers. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a 1-cm tumor in the right testis and atrophy of the left testis. A testicular tumor arising from a functional unilateral testis was discovered during infertility treatment for which the patient was referred to our hospital for fertility preservation. Right and left testicular volumes were 18 mL and 3 mL, respectively, and his serum testosterone level was 2.96 ng/mL. Noting the atrophy of the contralateral testicle, we proceeded with a rapid pathology diagnosis by partial testicular resection. If no evidence of tumor malignancy was found, the surgery would have been concluded with no further dissection. Since the patient was undergoing fertility treatment, the decision was made to take sperm from the extracted testicle to preserve his fertility, followed by orchiectomy. Because a seminoma was suspected through the rapid pathological diagnosis, the man eventually underwent higher orchiectomy and testicular sperm extraction. The final diagnosis was seminoma, followed by successful retrieval of a sufficient level of sperm. Post operative serum testosterone level was found to be 0.32 ng/mL, after which testosterone replacement therapy was introduced. Through rapid diagnosis of pathology, successful management and outcome were achieved in the case of testicular cancer combined with infertility.