Testis & epididymis
Paratesticular tumors
Adenocarcinoma-rete testis
Author: Rafael Jimenez, M.D.
Topic Completed: 1 March 2012
Minor changes: 11 September 2020
Copyright: 2003-2021, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed search: Adenocarcinoma Rete testis
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Case reports | Gross description | Microscopic (histologic) description | Differential diagnosisCite this page: Jimenez R. Adenocarcinoma-rete testis. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/testisreteadeno.html. Accessed December 3rd, 2021.
Definition / general
- Very rare
- Resembles mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis
- Usually age 60+, range 31 - 91 years and described only in Caucasians
- Poor prognosis, often lymphatic metastases
- References: Am J Surg Pathol 1988;12:492, Am J Surg Pathol 1984;8:625, Arch Pathol Lab Med 1990;114:84, Hum Pathol 1977;8:219
Case reports
- With sertoliform differentiation (Arch Pathol Lab Med 1989;113:1169)
Gross description
- Centered in hilum, lack of direct extension through tunica; white, yellow, gray
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Transitions from tumor to rete testis, no evidence of teratoma and no other primary tumor
- Solid, tubular or papillary patterns with clear cut stromal invasion
- Slit like spaces in solid nests of tumor are common; intra - rete growth is common
- May have intratubular invasion of testis; may have spindle cell component or sertoliform differentiation
Differential diagnosis
