Adenocarcinoma of the rete testis associated with castration-resistant prostate cancer

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Adenocarcinoma of the rete testis is a very rare diagnosis with only about 60 reported cases. To the best of our knowledge, the present report is the first on that tumor associated with prostate cancer. 

CLINICAL CASE: An 84-year-old man with a history of castration-resistant prostate cancer presented with a non-tender, solid, right testicular mass. Tumor markers were within normal limits. The patient underwent radical inguinal orchiectomy and the pathology study reported adenocarcinoma of the rete testis. Diagnosis was confirmed through immunohistochemistry and staining was positive for high molecular weight cytokeratin (CK HMW) and cytokeratin 5/6, and negative for PSA. 

CONCLUSION: Adenocarcinoma of the rete testis is a very rare condition. Clinical presentation of those tumors is nonspecific, and the diagnostic immunohistochemistry profile has not been well defined. Prognosis is poor, with a short overall survival rate. 

KEYWORDS: Adenocarcinoma; Immunohistochemistry; Orchiectomy; Rete testis; Testicular neoplasms