Primary neuroendocrine tumor of the testis and osseous, cardiac, and lymph node metastases in a young patient

Abstract

A 19-year-old patient was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor (NET) of the testis and suffered from testicular pain and swelling after orchiectomy. After a comprehensive diagnosis, this tumor was shown to be a primary, metastasizing NET of the testis. Primary NETs of the testis are very rare; in the literature, only approximately 60 patients of all ages are mentioned. Less than 20% of the patients show a metastatic spread. In our patient, lymph node, cardiac, and osseous metastases have been found. It was possible to remove the lymph node metastases through surgery, and the osseous metastases were treated by means of radiation. The exploratory thoracotomy revealed a cardiac metastatic spread; however, it was so extended that a radical resection was not possible. Thereafter, the patient received palliative antiproliferative therapy with the somatostatin analogue lanreotide in the form of monthly subcutaneous injections. This treatment resulted in a stable disease situation. Result: It is possible to administer lanreotide autogel in order to control the growth of the tumor in a young patient with a metastasizing primary NET of the testis with an impossible curative resection of the metastases.