ESPE Abstracts

Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate endocrine risk factors of testicular cancer of children with testicular microlithiasis.

Method: Under research were 74 patients with testicular microlithiasis (average 11.41±4.02). Heredity, case history, endocrine diseases, anthropometric indicators, ultrasound of the scrotum were evaluated.

Results: At 20 of 74 (27%) children microlithiasis was combined with strong risk factors of testicles cancer – cryptorchism and disorder of sex development (DSD) (50%, 10/20), 54 (73%, P=0.002) children had isolated microlithiasis. One-sided cryptorchism detected in 60% (6/10), double-sided in 40% (4/10) of children. 20% (2/10) of patients with cryptorchism had obesity, one case within the Prader-Willy’s syndrome. Atrophy of the gonads had 50% (5/10) patients. Among 60% (6/10) in patients with DSD were verified the following diagnoses: partial gonadal dysgenesis – 20% (2/6), mixed gonadal dysgenesis – 20% (2/6), partial androgenic insensitivity syndrome – 20% (2/6). Additional testicular cancer risk factors had 22% (12/54) patients with isolated testicular microlithiasis: heredity – 1.8% (1/54), germ-cell tumors of other location – 1.8% (1/54), leydigoma – 1.8% (1/54), obesity – 7.4% (4/54), testicular atrophy – 3.7% (2/54), irregular puberty syndrome – 3.7% (2/54), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (21 – hydroxylase deficiency), salt-wasting with TART syndrome – 1.8% (1/54). Conditional risk factors had 16.6% (9/54) of patients: pubertal gynecomastia in 11% (6/54), varicocele in 5.5% (3/54). Among patients with isolated testicular microlithiasis three additional testicular cancer risk factors had 1 (1.8%) teenager, two factors – 4 (7.4%), one factor – 7(13%) children.

Conclusion: Every third child with testicular microlithiasis had severe testicle cancer risk factors (cryptorchism, DSD). Every 4th patient with isolated microlithiasis had additional endocrine risk factors of testicular cancer; each 12th patient had a conditional risk factor.