Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the most common primary testicular neoplasm of older men but is rare in young men. The vast majority of primary testicular lymphomas (PTL) are intermediate- to high-grade lymphomas.
Objective: To describe the clinical, morphologic, and immunophenolypic characteristics of PTL seen in a referral center.
Material and methods: We reviewed the cases of PTL seen from 1986 to 1999. We obtained data of laboratory, tests, clinical course, treatment, and immunohistochemical studies.
Results: 10 patients with diagnosis of PTL were identified. Median age was 62.3 years (range 42-81 years), and nine patients underwent orchiectomy as initial therapeutic procedure. Other treatment modalities after diagnosis included combination chemotherapy (60%) and combination radiotherapy (20%). Histologically, testes showed diffuse dense infiltration of large lymphoma cells. All cases were classified as diffuse large cell lymphoma according to REAL classification. Eight cases were studied with use of paraffin-section immunoperoxidase, 7/8 tumors were B-lineage lymphomas, and one was a T-lineage lymphoma.