Three cases of interstitial cell tumour of the testicle

✍ Scribed by G. H. Baines; V. S. Brookes; J. B. W. Halley

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1962
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 394 KB
• Volume: 49
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0007-1323
• DOI: 10.1002/bjs.18004921709

✦ Synopsis

INTERSTITIAL cell (Leydig cell) tumours of the testicle are relatively rare, comprising about I per cent of all testicular tumours. They remain somewhat of a mystery largely owing to our present inadequate knowledge of hormone biochemistry.

The experimental background is dealt with by Jones (1955). In animals interstitial cell tumours can be produced by a number of methods. T h e most efficient appears to be by intrasplenic testicular implant i n castrated rats, but they can also be induced in mice with estrogen injections and by a variety of other methods.

Their behaviour i n children has recently been reviewed by Bishop, van Meurs, Willcox, and Arnold (1960). In pre-pubertal cases they always produce macrogenitosomia and sometimes psychosexual upsets. Apparently they do not go malignant.