Secondary polycythemia as a paraneoplastic syndrome of testicular seminoma

Ann Hematol. 2004 Jan;83(1):55-7. doi: 10.1007/s00277-003-0745-7. Epub 2003 Aug 16.

Abstract

A 45-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of polycythemia. A physical examination revealed a large tumor in his scrotum enlarged to the size of 13 x 10 cm. A laboratory examination revealed severe erythrocytosis with a red blood cell count of 6,820 x 10(9)/L, a hemoglobin concentration of 21.2 g/dL, and a hematocrit of 59.8%. The total red cell volume was increased. A right radical orchidectomy was done with minimum bleeding, and he was diagnosed as having pure seminoma. After the operation, polycythemia improved spontaneously. Polycythemia is a rare complication of seminoma and only two cases have been reported previously. The precise mechanism of polycythemia in our patient could not be clearly evaluated, but clinical course did indicate a close relationship between two distinct disorders.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Hematologic Tests
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Orchiectomy
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / blood
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / complications*
  • Polycythemia / blood
  • Polycythemia / etiology*
  • Seminoma / blood
  • Seminoma / complications*
  • Seminoma / surgery
  • Testicular Neoplasms / blood
  • Testicular Neoplasms / complications*
  • Testicular Neoplasms / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome