Lessons from 52 patients with leydig cell tumor of the testis: the GUONE (North-Eastern Uro-Oncological Group, Italy) experience.

INTRODUCTION: The goal of the study was to define treatment rules for the uncommon, rarely (10%) malignant and chemorefractory Leydig cell tumors (LCT) of the testis.

METHODS: The main clinical data of patients treated in centers affiliated to the GUONE (North-Eastern Uro-Oncological Group, Italy) were reviewed. We considered 52 patients (54 tumors, 2 bilateral) whose ages ranged from 13 to 70 years (mean 36). Of the treatments performed, 52 were orchiectomies and 2 were enucleations (unfavorable pathology in only 2 tumors). There were 5 lymphadenectomies (retroperitoneal lymph node dissections): 2 for suspected stage II disease and 1 each for unfavorable pathology, bilateral disease and associated Sertoli tumor (pathology: pN0 in all cases). The length of follow-up ranged from 15 to 249 months (mean 81).

RESULTS: There was no relapse in 51 patients and 1 died as a result of metastatic disease (orchiectomy at the age of 70; unremarkable pathology).

CONCLUSIONS: Malignant LCT seems to be, in our experience, less frequent than previously reported. Age and pathology are useful prognostic factors, but their predictive value should never be considered absolute. Enucleation seems justified in young patients with favorable pathology. In clinical stage I LCT, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection should be offered to older patients and/or to patients with unfavorable pathology. A prolonged follow-up is mandatory.