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962 Testicular Tumors

Acute and Chronic Treatment rectal prolapse (uncommon; usually patients Technician Tips
< 6 months old)
Depends on cause of tenesmus: • Megacolon due to chronic obstipation • Technicians should be able to differentiate
VetBooks.ir • Topical treatment (e.g., proctitis, pseudo- • Surgery: risk of postoperative fecal inconti- • Triage of patient: assess urinary bladder size
tenesmus from stranguria when communicat-
• Systemic medications (e.g., colitis, perianal
ing with the owner; may be lifesaving.
fistulas)
nence
coprostasis)
• Fluid resuscitation and enemas (e.g., PROGNOSIS & OUTCOME (ensure urethra is not obstructed).
constipation/obstipation) SUGGESTED READING
• Surgical treatment (e.g., certain anal sac • Colonic/rectal inflammatory lesions: medical Jergens AE: Dyschezia and tenesmus. In Washabau
disorders; pelvic, rectal, or anal mass lesions) therapy often successful RJ, et al, editors: Canine and feline gastroenterology,
• Stool softener may be appropriate (e.g., • Anal sac disease/perineal hernias/wounds St. Louis, 2013, Saunders, pp 109-113.
MiraLax, lactulose) in and surrounding anorectal area: better AUTHOR: Lisa Carioto, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM
prognosis than strictures/malignant neoplasia
Nutrition/Diet • Perianal fistulas: improved prognosis with EDITOR: Leah A. Cohn, DVM, PhD, DACVIM
• ± High-soluble fiber diet cyclosporine but costly. Topical tacrolimus
• ± Hypoallergenic diet if inflammatory bowel is less expensive but may be less effective
disease/food sensitivity suspected (p. 771).
Behavior/Exercise PEARLS & CONSIDERATIONS
Modification to address stressors (e.g.,
environmental/schedule change, renovations, Comments
multipet household) if contributing to inability • Stranguria is a common impostor for
or unwillingness to defecate tenesmus, especially in cats.
• Tenesmus is a clinical sign, not a disease; an
Possible Complications underlying cause must be sought.
• Recurrent tenesmus, colonic/rectal obstruc-
tion causing obstipation, perineal hernia, or

Testicular Tumors Bonus Material Client Education
Sheet
Online

BASIC INFORMATION RISK FACTORS PHYSICAL EXAM FINDINGS
Dogs, cryptorchidism: Testicular enlargement ± atrophy of contra-
Definition • Overall risk of testicular tumor development lateral testis; if cryptorchid, intraabdominal
Neoplasia arising from testicular germ cells increased 13-14 times mass may be palpable
or sex cord–stromal cells; common in dogs, • Risk of Sertoli cell tumor increased 20 times • Seminoma: soft to slightly firm texture
uncommon in cats • Approximately one-half of Sertoli cell tumors • Sertoli cell tumor: very firm texture, discrete
occur in cryptorchid testes. mass
Synonyms • Approximately one-third of seminomas occur • Leydig cell tumor: soft texture, discrete
• Germ cell tumor: seminoma in cryptorchid testes. mass
• Mixed tumors: germ cell/stromal tumors Cats: none identified • Mixed germ cell/stromal tumors: various
• Sex cord–stromal tumor: Leydig (intersti- textures, generally discrete and focal
tial) cell tumor, Sertoli (sustentacular) cell ASSOCIATED DISORDERS • Sertoli cell with hyperestrogenism: endocrine
tumor Sertoli cell tumor: hyperestrogenism occurs dermatopathy, gynecomastia, pendulous
in approximately 20%-30% of affected dogs. penile sheath, redistribution of body fat,
Epidemiology Pancytopenia also can occur. marked contralateral testicular atrophy
SPECIES, AGE, SEX
Dogs: Clinical Presentation Etiology and Pathophysiology
• Incidence: common (75% of all tumors DISEASE FORMS/SUBTYPES Cryptorchidism: altered testicular environment
affecting the male urogenital tract) • Primary: unilateral or bilateral, focal or due to increased testicular temperature favors
• Age: aged patients, most > 7 years multifocal neoplastic transformation of Sertoli cells and
• Equal incidence of seminoma, Leydig cell • Metastatic (rare) (less commonly) germ cells.
tumor; Sertoli cell tumor much less common
Cats: all tumor types are rare. HISTORY, CHIEF COMPLAINT DIAGNOSIS
• Testicular enlargement ± atrophy of unaf-
GENETICS, BREED PREDISPOSITION fected testis (most severe associated with Diagnostic Overview
• All tumors: Shetland sheepdogs and collie Sertoli cell tumor but can occur with other Diagnosis relies on palpation of an enlarged
(fivefold higher prevalence), Maltese dogs neoplasms, especially larger tumors) testis or an abnormal firm area in a normal-
overrepresented • Sertoli cell tumor: symmetrical hair loss, sized testis. Ultrasound and cytologic evalua-
• Seminoma: boxer and Norwegian elkhound feminization (gynecomastia, attractiveness to tion may aid in diagnosis, but in most cases,
are predisposed. other male dogs, pendulous penile sheath, excision of the affected testis and submission
• Sertoli cell: miniature schnauzers with lethargy, loss of libido, redistribution of for histopathologic evaluation confirms
persistent müllerian duct syndrome, Shetland body fat). Occasionally, complaints related neoplasia and allows classification of the
sheepdogs, and collies are predisposed. to anemia, thrombocytopenia, or leukopenia tumor.

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