Rete testis adenocarcinoma

Testis and epididymis
Rete testis
Adenocarcinoma

Author: Rafael Jimenez, M.D.

Topic Completed: 1 March 2012

Revised: 28 March 2019

Copyright: 2003-2017, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

PubMed search: Adenocarcinoma Rete testis

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Table of Contents

Definition / general | Case reports | Gross description | Microscopic (histologic) description | Differential diagnosis

Cite this page: Jimenez R. Rete testis adenocarcinoma. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/testisreteadeno.html. Accessed February 21st, 2020.

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