1 Background

Occurrence of testicular tumors in undescended testes (UDT) is a rare, but known complication. The incidence of testicular tumors in UDT is 3-8 times greater than in general population with normally descended testes, being most frequently associated with intraabdominal testis [1]. Majority of these testicular tumors in UDT occur in postpubertal cases [2, 3]. However, involvement of UDT with tumor in prepubertal children is very rare, particularly in intraabdominal testis [2, 3]. Majority of intraabdominal testicular tumors were teratomas with only four cases of yolk sac tumor (YST) in intraabdominal testis reported in the literature [2,3,4,5]. But, no case of intraabdominal/testicular YST with normal preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein has been reported in the literature to the best of our knowledge.

We report the first case of intraabdominal testicular YST in a 2-years-old boy presenting with bilateral nonpalpable UDT, abdominal mass, and normal serum alpha-fetoprotein.

2 Case Presentation

A 2-year-old boy was admitted with complaints of bilateral empty scrotal sacs since birth, lower abdominal lump for one month, and mild abdominal discomfort for 15 days. No family history of similar complaints was present. There was no history of recurrent abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, hematuria, dysuria, malena, or any limb weakness. On examination, a 6.8 × 5.8 cm mildly tender, ovoid, firm lump with smooth surface and well-defined margins was palpable in suprapubic region extending up to umbilicus and left iliac region (Fig. 1a). No other lump or organomegaly was present. Bilateral scrotal sacs were empty, and both testes were nonpalpable. Serum tumor markers estimation revealed normal serum alpha-fetoprotein by chemiluminescence microparticular assay (2.09 IU/ml), mildly raised serum lactate dehydrogenase by kinetic chemistry L-lactate to pyruvate conversion by electron acceptor method (495.3 U/L), and normal beta human chorionic gonadotropin by chemiluminescence microparticular assay (1.15 mIU/ml). Urine was negative for vanillylmandelic acid and homovanillic acid by ELISA method. X-ray abdomen and chest was normal. Ultrasound whole abdomen with bilateral scrotum revealed nonvisualization of testes in both scrotum and inguinal regions, and a well-defined heterogeneous solid-cystic mass with internal echoes of size 6.6 × 5.9 cm in pelvis above and left to bladder and anterior to iliac vessels but separate from these structures. Left testis was seen near left deep inguinal ring but right testis was not visualized. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) scan of whole abdomen revealed bilateral UDT with left testis intraabdominally adjacent to left deep inguinal ring, nonvisualization of right testis, and a heterogeneous mildly enhancing space-occupying lesion measuring 6.7 × 5.6 × 4.8 cm in midline and left side of pelvis above the bladder but separate from it (Fig. 1b). Clinical diagnosis of bilateral nonpalpable undescended testes with intraabdominal lump probably due to testicular tumor was made. The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy (EL) through pfannenstiel incision. EL revealed an ovoid intraabdominal mass, over which small bowel was adhered, in midline in pelvis (Fig. 2a). Adhesiolysis revealed right intraabdominal testicular mass with one turn torsion of right spermatic cord that was derotated (Fig. 2b). Left UDT was seen near left deep inguinal ring. Retroperitoneal lymph nodes were not enlarged. Radical orchiectomy was performed after ligation of right spermatic cord. Left orchiopexy was also performed at the same time. The right testicular mass specimen was sent for histopathologic examination (HPE). Grossly, right testicular mass specimen measured 6.8 × 5.5 × 4.8 cm with smooth and congested outer surface. Epididymis measuring 3 × 2 × 1.5 cm, vas deferens and testicular vessels were attached to mass (Fig. 2c). Cut surface was firm showing grayish-brown foci of testicular tissue and replacement of near whole of testicular parenchyma by hemorrhagic and necrotic area (Fig. 3a). HPE revealed an encapsulated lesion with predominantly large area of hemorrhagic necrosis and interstitial hemorrhage interspersed with small areas of variably sized atypical cells with comprising of round to anisomorphic nuclei and moderate to abundant vacuolated cytoplasm, areas of mitosis at places, and multiple dilated congested vascular channels filled with blood. Areas of hemosiderin deposition were also seen (Fig. 3b, c). Sections from vas deferens and epididymis showed no evidence of tumor. Immunohistochemistry showed positivity for alpha-fetoprotein in tumor cells (Fig. 3d). After HPE and immunohistochemistry, final diagnosis of right-sided intraabdominal testicular YST with intratumoral necrosis was made. Serum tumor markers in postoperative period and at monthly follow-up remained within normal range and there was no recurrence or distant metastasis at 12-month follow-up after surgery.

Fig. 1
figure 1

a clinical picture of patient showing bilateral nonpalpable undescended testes in both scrotum and inguinal regions and a 6.8 × 5.8 cm suprapubic lump, b CECT abdomen coronal section showing a heterogeneous mass in pelvis above the bladder and in midline

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Fig. 2
figure 2

a Operative picture showing intraabdominal mass (1) in pelvis above bladder (2). Over the mass (1), small bowel (3) is seen adhered. Left testis (4) is also seen intraabdominally in left side of pelvis proximal to deep inguinal ring, b operative picture showing right testicular mass (1) after adhesiolysis. Right testicular mass (1) had been derotated. Line of demarcation (5) is seen at spermatic cord at site of torsion after its derotation with congested testicular mass, testicular vessels, and vas deferens distal to site of torsion, c gross specimen of right testis with attached epididymis (6), vas deferens (7), and testicular vessels (8) after radical orchiectomy that have congested and smooth outer surface

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Fig. 3
figure 3

a Cut section of testicular specimen displaying brownish-red diffuse hemorrhagic and necrotic areas replacing nearly whole of testicular parenchyma along with grayish-brown foci of testicular tissue, b and c low-power view of microscopic examination (H&E-100 ×) showing diffuse hemorrhagic necrosis of testicular parenchyma with focal interspersed viable tumor cells (d) Immunohistochemistry showing positivity for AFP in tumor cells (× 100)

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3 Discussion

Testicular tumors in children are rare accounting for 1–2% of all pediatric solid tumors with an incidence of 0.5–2.0/100,000 children and adolescents [2, 5, 6]. About 10% of testicular tumors are associated with UDT, and association between UDT and malignancy has been well established [7]. Earlier risk of developing testicular tumor in UDT had been considered to be 30–50 times greater than in the general population being highest with IAT intraabdominal testis [8], but recently, it has been estimated as 3–8 times higher than in the general population and most commonly seen in intraabdominal testis [1]. Testicular tumors in UDT usually occur at the same age as testicular tumors in normally descended testes, i.e., 20–40 years [2,3,4]. However, testicular tumors arising in UDT are rare in prepubertal children, particularly in intraabdominal testis [2, 3].

Since its first report in 1941 to 2015, 38 cases of intraabdominal testicular tumors in prepubertal children had been reported [2, 3]. Most of the intraabdominal testicular tumors in prepubertal children were teratomas in contrast to intraabdominal testicular tumors in adolescents and adults in whom seminoma is the most common testicular tumors [2, 3]. Malignant tumors in intraabdominal testis in prepubertal children are very unusual. We have found only four cases of intraabdominal testicular YST in prepubertal children. YSTs produce alpha-fetoprotein in very high concentrations and can be diagnosed by measuring raised serum alpha-fetoprotein levels [6]. However, our case is the first case of intraabdominal testicular YST because despite being YST, preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein was normal. This could be explained by replacement of majority of testicular tissue by necrosis and hemorrhage as seen in HPE due to the presence of torsion in our case. Torsion might have resulted in death of most of the right intraabdominal testicular YST tissue due to occlusion of blood supply to right testis and resulted in normal preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein.

Testicular tumors in intraabdominal testis in prepubertal children can present either as asymptomatic testicular mass detected during evaluation of nonpalpable UDT or with symptoms like abdominal pain or abdominal lump associated with mid or severe pain, nausea, vomiting or low-grade fever due to torsion, hemorrhage, or rupture of intraabdominal testicular tumors [2, 3, 9, 10]. Imaging studies such as ultrasound or CECT abdomen can be useful adjuncts in making diagnosis of intraabdominal testicular tumors in both asymptomatic and symptomatic cases with nonpalpable UDT [2, 3, 9]. Role of laparoscopy has also been described in both diagnosis and treatment for intraabdominal testicular tumors [10]. Torsion had been reported to occur in about 60% of cases of intraabdominal testicular tumors in prepubertal children [2, 3, 10]; similarly, our case too had torsion at the time of laparotomy, resulting in necrosis and hemosiderin deposition in HPE. Therefore, torsion testis forms an important differential diagnosis of intraabdominal testicular tumors; and exact diagnosis can be made after histopathologic examination and immunohistochemistry.

Majority of intraabdominal testicular tumors in prepubertal children are clinically stage I tumors which can be managed with radical orchiectomy and surveillance with frequent measurement of tumor markers and thoracic and abdominal imaging similar to those in descended testes in prepubertal children [2, 5, 6]. Therefore, we have also performed only right radical orchiectomy and frequent monitoring with estimation of tumor markers and imaging studies and noticed favorable outcome with normal serum alpha-fetoprotein and no recurrence or distant metastasis of tumor at 12-month follow-up after discharge.

4 Conclusion

In a child with nonpalpable UDT presenting with abdominal lump/pain, possibility of intraabdominal testicular tumor should always be included in differential diagnosis. Tumor markers can help in making the diagnosis, but are not always raised. Early ultrasound or CECT scan helps in early detection and diagnosis of an intraabdominal testicular tumor that can aid in planning of optimum treatment for favorable outcome.