Well-Differentiated Papillary Mesothelioma of the Tunica Vaginalis Testis: Imaging on Tc-99m Heat-Denatured Red Blood Cell Scintigraphy

Clinical Nuclear Medicine. 2008 Apr;33(4):282-284. [Link]

Chollet Y, Hauser P, Da Silva T, Meuwly JY, Praz V, Jichlinski P, Guillou L, Delaloye AB, Wisard M, Prior J.

From the Departments of *Urology, †Radiology, ‡Pathology, and §Nuclear Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Abstract

An 18-year-old man presented with a growing painless left scrotal mass. Sonography showed a hydrocele and a homogeneous, well-encapsulated left extratesticular mass with similar echogenicity as the normal testis, suggestive of a splenogonadal fusion. To substantiate the diagnosis, the patient underwent Tc-99m heat-denatured red blood cell scintigraphy showing normal physiological hyperactivity in the spleen but activity similar to the blood pool projecting on the upper part of the left testis. This made testicular splenic tissue less likely. The patient underwent resection and histopathology revealed a well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma. Inguinal orchidectomy was subsequently performed and the patient was free of recurrence at 18 months.