SIMULTANEOUS APPEARANCE OF MULTIPLE TESTICULAR EPIDERMOID CYSTS AND AMALIGNANT TERATOMA IN THE CONTRALATERAL TESTIS

We describe the simultaneous appearance of multiple epidermoid cysts i n the right and an adult teratoma containing embryonal carcinoma and c horioncarcinoma in the left testis. No similar case has previously bee n described. Epidermoid cysts of the testis are rare, accounting for a bout 1% of all testicular tumors. Epidermoid cysts are now regarded as monoepidermally developed teratomas of germ cell origin. Testicular t eratomas in adults, however, are always malignant. Because epidermoid cysts are rare tumors, primary therapy often consists in ablation of t he testis. In the case described, excision of the epidermoid cyst prot ected the patient from complete castration. This case demonstrates the simultaneous appearance of a malignant and a benign testicular germ c ell tumor.