Paratesticular papillary mesothelioma: a case with borderline features

Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. 2006 Jan;130(1):90-2. [Link]

Cabay RJ, Siddiqui NH, Alam S.

Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612-7335, USA. rcabay1@uic.edu

Abstract

Most often, mesotheliomas involve the serosal (serous) membranes of the pleura and peritoneum. Sometimes, mesothelial proliferations are identified in other locations. On very rare occasions, a mesothelioma is found within the tunica vaginalis of the paratesticular region. We report a case of papillary mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis in a 52-year-old man. Although this lesion had papillary structures lined by a single layer of mesothelial cells with predominantly bland nuclear and cytologic features, there was evidence of a minimal presence of mesothelial cells in the underlying stroma. This combination of benign and semimalignant characteristics can make the diagnosis of such a lesion problematic. We think that a diagnosis of "borderline papillary mesothelioma" can be considered for similar mesothelial proliferations to allow for a possible increase in diagnostic accuracy and provide an enhanced informational platform from which patients and clinicians can benefit.