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Seminoma with syncytiotrophoblastic giant cells

A special form of seminoma

Virchows Archiv A volume 383, pages 59–67 (1979)Cite this article

Summary

Testicular seminomas may occur in various forms, of which the classical and spermatocytic are distinct, the anaplastic or atypical seminomas, however, less clearly defined. Lately, a separate group of particular clinical significance, comprising seminomas with syncytiotrophoblastic giant cells (STGC), has been specified. Although this type of seminoma had been recognized morphologically long ago, recent investigations have shown its ability to secrete HCG, a fact that raises serious difficulties in its differential diagnosis with combined seminomas and choriocarcinomas. Two cases of seminomas with STGC are presented and pertinent clinical and morphologic problems discussed.

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Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pathology, University of Zürich, Switzerland

    Chr. Hedinger, A. R. von Hochstetter & B. Egloff

  2. Institute of Pathology, Kantonsspital Winterthur, Switzerland

    Chr. Hedinger, A. R. von Hochstetter & B. Egloff

Authors
  1. Chr. Hedinger
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  2. A. R. von Hochstetter
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  3. B. Egloff
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Dedicated to Professor E. Uehlinger on the occasion of his 80th birthday

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Hedinger, C., von Hochstetter, A.R. & Egloff, B. Seminoma with syncytiotrophoblastic giant cells. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 383, 59–67 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427010

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427010

Key words

  • Seminoma
  • Syncytiotrophoblastic giant cells
  • Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)