Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis: Case report and literature review

Our plain-English summary of Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis: Case report and literature review, by M. Zazzara, A. Nazaraj, M. Mastromauro, et al (Urology Case Reports, 2019).

The study

• Authors: M. Zazzara, A. Nazaraj, M. Mastromauro, G. Cardo, M. Scarcia, P. Rizzo, G.M. Ludovico
• Journal: Urology Case Reports
• Published: 2019;22:13-14
• Type of article: Case report
• Cited by: 5 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

In plain English

This article reported one patient with well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma (WDPM) of the tunica vaginalis, the lining around the testis, and briefly reviewed earlier published reports. The patient was an 83-year-old man in Acquaviva delle Fonti, Italy, with a painless swelling of the left scrotum that had grown over 12 months. The authors reported that no history of significant asbestos exposure was found. Ultrasound showed fluid around the testis (a hydrocele) and several masses up to 1.3 cm across. WDPM was diagnosed on tissue examined during surgery. Because of the many lesions and the patient's age, the left testis was removed. The lesions measured 0.1 to 1 cm, and the testis, epididymis and spermatic cord were not involved. A PET-CT scan showed no abnormal findings, and no further treatment was given. Six months after surgery the patient was alive and cancer free. The authors noted that fewer than 20 such cases had been reported worldwide. They concluded that complete surgical removal appears to be the appropriate treatment, and that WDPM is assumed to be benign because no cases of metastasis have been reported.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: case report with a brief literature review
• Who was studied: one 83-year-old man seen in the Urology Department of a regional general hospital in Acquaviva delle Fonti, Italy, for a painless enlargement of the left scrotum lasting 12 months
• Exposure: The authors reported that no history of significant asbestos exposure was found in this patient; no fiber type or job is described
• Main results:
  • In the patient, ultrasound showed a left hydrocele with multiple masses, the largest 1.3 cm in diameter
  • Because of the multiple lesions and the patient's age, a radical left orchiectomy (removal of the left testis) was performed
  • In the patient's removed tissue, examination showed multiple papillary lesions from 0.1 to 1 cm on the tunica vaginalis and albuginea testis
  • In the patient, the testis, epididymis and spermatic cord were not involved
  • In the patient's tumor, immunohistochemical testing showed no expression of K20 and a Ki67 proliferation rate of 10%
  • The WDPM diagnosis was confirmed, and the tumor appeared to have been completely excised
  • In the patient, a staging PET-CT scan showed no pathological features, and no further treatment was given
  • Six months after surgery, the patient was alive and cancer free
  • From the authors' review of earlier publications: fewer than 20 cases of WDPM of the tunica vaginalis testis had been reported worldwide
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that WDPM of the tunica vaginalis testis is rare and must be distinguished from malignant mesothelioma, that complete surgical excision appears to be the appropriate treatment, and that WDPM is assumed to be benign because no cases of metastasis have been reported.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • The authors stated that WDPM is not well understood because so few cases exist, and that a large series is needed

Topics

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Well-Differentiated Papillary Mesothelioma, Tunica Vaginalis.

Related studies

• Well-Differentiated Papillary Mesothelioma of the Tunica Vaginalis: Case Report and Systematic Review of Literature — W.K. Tan, M.Y. Tan, et al. (2016)
• Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis: a case study and review of the literature — S. Erdogan, A. Acikalin, et al. (2014)
• Case Report of a Well-Differentiated Papillary Mesothelioma of the Tunica Vaginalis in an Undescended Testis With Review of Literature — P. Parcesepe, S. Sina, et al. (2016)
• Well differentiated (benign) papillary mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis — R. Chetty (1992)
• Well-differentiated Papillary Mesothelioma of the Tunica Vaginalis — W.K. Tan, M.Y. Tan, et al. (2016)
• Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma of tunica vaginalis testis of unknown malignant potential: Sonographic appearance — K.W.S. Ko, K.S. Tse, et al. (2018)

Browse more research in Urology Case Reports, or return to medical research.