GCNIS
Section Editor: Dharam M. Ramnani, MD
Virginia Urology, Richmond, VA, USA
Image Description
Germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS) in a cryptorchid testis. The tubular basement membrane is thickened considerably. The interstitium contains sheets of Leydig cells. The patient was a 30 y/o male with history of cryptorchidism which had been corrected at age 4; however, the testis retracted into the inguinal canal as he grew older.
Cryptorchidism does not play a pathogenetic role in germ cell tumors but is a surrogate marker. These patients are thought to have a testicular dysgenesis syndrome and frequently have additional findings, including infertility, disorders of sex development, and GCNIS.
Cryptorchid testis with germ cell neoplasia show a multitude of histologic findings, including Leydig cell hyperplasia (shown here), microlithiasis, vascular abnormalities, Sertoli cell nodules (mistakenly labeled sometimes as Pick adenoma), tubular atrophy, and multinucleated spermatogonia.
Cryptorchidism does not play a pathogenetic role in germ cell tumors but is a surrogate marker. These patients are thought to have a testicular dysgenesis syndrome and frequently have additional findings, including infertility, disorders of sex development, and GCNIS.
Cryptorchid testis with germ cell neoplasia show a multitude of histologic findings, including Leydig cell hyperplasia (shown here), microlithiasis, vascular abnormalities, Sertoli cell nodules (mistakenly labeled sometimes as Pick adenoma), tubular atrophy, and multinucleated spermatogonia.