INCIDENCE OF TESTICULAR MONONUCLEAR CELL INFILTRATES IN NORMAL HUMAN MALES AND IN PATIENTS WITH GERM-CELL NEOPLASIA

The incidence of mononuclear cell (MNC) infiltrates was studied in the testes of the following: 45 patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS) as the only lesion in the testis, CIS accompanied by an early invasion of CIS or CIS accompanied by invasive germ cell tumour (GCT) of the test is; 100 men and 146 boys who had died suddenly and unexpectedly, and 1 00 infertility patients. The results suggest that (1) the incidence of MNC infiltration increases with increasing severity of testicular mal ignant changes, (2) increased MNC infiltration is also evident in the contralateral testis where no malignant cells can be observed, (3) the incidence of MNC infiltration in men who died suddenly is not differe nt from that in men who have had their testes biopsied because of infe rtility, and (4) the incidence of MNC infiltration is high in testes o f boys younger than 1 year of age.