Bilateral testicular teratoma in infancy: Report of a rare case treated by testis-sparing surgery

Abstract

Testicular tumors are rarely seen in childhood, with germ-cell tumors as the most common type. Teratoma is second only to yolk sac tumor in frequency. Bilateral testicular teratoma is extremely rare. Orchiectomy has been the standard treatment for most tumors of the testes in the past. However, in children, testis-sparing surgery has become the treatment of choice for benign lesions including teratoma. A 10-month-old infant with synchronous bilateral testicular teratomas, one of which was disclosed by ultrasonography, is presented here. While the larger teratoma required unilateral orchiectomy, the smaller tumor in the contralateral testicle was enucleated by testis-sparing surgery. The follow-up at three years was uneventful with normal development of the testis and the boy. Testicular teratoma may reside in both testicles without clinical symptoms. Ultrasound of both testes provides coherent preoperative diagnosis, allowing the surgeon to consider testicular-sparing procedures, thus preventing anorchia in these rare occurrences.