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Testicular plasmacytoma

Case contributed by Henry Knipe
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Left testicular mass.

Patient Data

Age: 55 years
Gender: Male
ultrasound

The left testes is enlarged, measuring 4.7 x 2.0 x 3.2 cm (estimated volume 23 cc). In the lower pole there is a well-defined heterogeneous, vascular mass that measures 3.0 x 2.4 x 2.4 cm.

Right testes is normal in appearance and vascularity, measuring 4.1 x 1.9 x 2.8 cm (estimated volume 12 cc). Both epididymi are normal in appearance. Small bilateral hydrocoeles.

Histopathology:

MACROSCOPIC DESCRIPTION: "Left orchiectomy specimen": Testis with spermatic cord weighing 56g and measuring 45x25x30mm. Spermatic cord 80x12mm. Epididymis 38x14x12mm. The specimen initially arrived fresh to the laboratory and some tissue was sent for flow cytometry.

On cut section, within the lower pole of the testis, there is a reasonably well-circumscribed pale tan nodule 30x30x25mm. Patchy hemorrhage on cut surface. The nodule abuts the tunica albuginea but does not appear to extend into it. It is not seen on the surface of the tunica albuginea and the tunica vaginalis is not adherent. Epididymis appears normal and the tumor does not appear to extend to the rete.

MICROSCOPIC DESCRIPTION:

Sections show testis, epididymis and spermatic cord. There is infiltration of the testicular parenchyma by a diffuse infiltrate of plasmacytoid cells that is surrounding and destroying seminiferous tubules. The cells have round, eccentrically-placed nuclei with "clockface" chromatin and amphophilic cytoplasm. A perinuclear hof is seen in some cells; others have small nucleoli. Scattered Russell bodies and Dutcher bodies are also present.

There is wide infiltration of the testicular parenchyma, beyond the nodule seen macroscopically. The infiltrate is also present within but does not extend through adjacent tunica albuginea. Tumouir is not seen within the epididymis or at the spermatic cord resection margin.

Immununohistochemical staining for CD 138 shows strong positive staining within tumor cells. CD79a shows patchy positive staining and there is Kappa light chain restriction. Staining for CD20 is negative in tumor cells.

DIAGNOSIS:

Left testis: Plasmacytoma/Myeloma with kappa light chain restriction; involving tunica albuginea; epididymis spermatic cord margin clear of tumor.

Case Discussion

This patient had a history of multiple myeloma, treated with bone marrow transplant, and had been in remission for more than 12 months. The testes are a known site for hematological malignancies, including reports of plasmacytoma / multiple myeloma, due to the testicular blood barrier. Testicular plasmacytoma / multiple myeloma is rare, even in patients with known disease. There was no other evidence of disseminated myelomatous deposits. 

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