Spinal cord compression from metastatic Leydig's cell tumor of the testis: case report

A case of spinal cord compression from metastatic Leydig's cell tumor of the testis is presented. This 67-year-old man exhibited paraparesis and neurogenic bladder dysfunction secondary to a spinal epidural mass at the T5 level as the initial manifestation of his cancer. Surgical resection was undertaken for tissue diagnosis and spinal cord decompression. The histopathological features of the epidural mass and the excised left testicle were identical, indicative of Leydig's cell carcinoma. The literature is reviewed for previous experience with this exceedingly rare tumor. Unlike most metastatic spinal malignancies, radiation therapy is an ineffectual treatment modality for this tumor. Surgical resection is the only therapeutic option available for amelioration of spinal cord compression.