Feminizing Tumours of the Testis

Certain tumours of the testis in man cause symptoms of a feminizing nature and arouse interest and comment out of all proportion to the frequency of their occurrence. Although these tumours are rare, the literature is extensive, as most of the cases tend to be reported, and their hormonal effects have been the subject of much conjecture and speculation. Despite all that has been written, this particular aspect of hormone abnormality still remains ,obscure and complicated. Some authors have introduced new nomenclature and have attempted to classify the tumours from the standpoint of morbid histological studies; but mere histology alone is no basis for classification of these rare and interesting neoplasms. Until they are more fully investigated any attempt at classification is premature, and no real progress can be made in their elucidation. Such investigations must not only be from an histological point of view, but must also include pre-operative and post-operative hormonal assays and biosynthetic studies incorporating tumour tissue. Mostofi et al.,24 in a recent and authoritative article, describe a group of tumours characterized by a wide variety of histological appearances arising from the primitive gonadal mesenchyme. They call these neoplasms ' specialized gonadal stromal tumours'. In a small proportion of their cases gynaecomastia, as evidence of feminization, was reported. This article does much to simplify matters and dispenses with some misleading nomenclature which has been used in the past. These authors have vast experience and almost unlimited material to call upon from the American Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. A further article by them on the subject of interstitial cell tumours of the testis is eagerly awaited and will undoubtedly make a further contribution towards the elucidation and further study of these fascinating tumours.