Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of testicular tumours in infertile men and to specify their clinical, ultrasound and histological characteristics.
Material and methods: Retrospective study of all partial or total orchidectomies performed between January 1995 and April 2004. During this period, 3,000 new patients consulted for assessment of infertility. The clinical, laboratory and ultrasound assessment was identical for each patient.
Results: Twenty-six testicular tumours were operated in 25 patients, i.e. 0.83% of the infertile men who consulted our department. Six tumours were clinically palpable (23%) and 20 (77%) were discovered on ultrasonography. The size of nodules ranged between 4 and 49 mm. Twenty-three radical orchidectomies and only 3 partial orchidectomies were performed, as 96% of testes presenting a nodule were hypotrophic. Histological examination demonstrated 15 Leydig cell tumours (58%), 8 seminomas (30%), mature teratoma,1 Sertoli cell tumour, and 1 burnt-out tumour. Nine (36%) patients had a history of cryptorchidism. Tumour markers were normal in 24 of the 25 patients (96%). All nodules were hypoechoic. All tumours were classified as pT1 N0 M0 and no recurrence has been observed to date.
Conclusion: The incidence of testicular tumours in infertile men is much higher than in the general population. This incidence ranges between 0.35% and 0.83% according to various studies. A urological and andrological assessment should therefore be performed in all men presenting with infertility.