Sarcoidosis and testicular carcinoma

Case reports and small case series have described patients with sarcoidosis and testicular carcinoma. The goals of this study were to determine the incidence of sarcoidosis in patients with testicular carcinoma seen at the Mayo Clinic between 1950 and 1996 and to examine the relation between these two diseases, particularly in regard to the therapy and follow-up of patients with testicular carcinoma.

A computerized search of the patient data base at the Mayo Clinic was conducted to identify all patients seen between 1950 and 1996 who had a diagnosis of a malignant testicular tumor and sarcoidosis.

A total of 14 patients were identified. The median age at diagnosis of testicular carcinoma was 31.5 years. Eleven patients presented with Stage I disease and 3 with Stage II disease. Twelve patients had carcinoma diagnosed before sarcoidosis. The median age at the time of diagnosis of sarcoidosis was 36.5 years. Nine patients presented with radiographic Stage I disease, four with radiographic Stage II disease, and one with extrapulmonary disease. The estimated cumulative incidence of sarcoidosis in patients with testicular carcinoma seen at the Mayo Clinic between 1976 and 1995 was 617.3 per 100,000.

These data suggest that, compared with other solid tumors, testicular carcinoma has the strongest association with sarcoidosis. The observed incidence represents an approximate 100-fold increase compared with a general population of young white men. Although an etiologic relation is possible, the problems of access and surveillance bias should be addressed in prospective studies.