Leydig Cell Testicular Tumor Overview
Learn About Leydig Cell Testicular Tumor
A Leydig cell tumor is a tumor of the testicle. It develops from Leydig cells. These are the cells in the testicles that release the male hormone, testosterone.
Tumor - Leydig cell; Testicular tumor - Leydig
The cause of this tumor is unknown. There are no known risk factors for this tumor. Unlike germ cell tumors of the testicles, this tumor does not seem to be linked to undescended testes.
Leydig cell tumors make up a very small number of all testicular tumors. They are most often found in men between 30 and 60 years of age. This tumor is not common in children before puberty, but it may cause early puberty.
There may be no symptoms.
When symptoms do occur, they can include:
- Discomfort or pain in the testicle
- Enlargement of a testicle or change in the way it feels
- Excess growth of breast tissue (gynecomastia) -- however, this can occur normally in adolescent boys who do not have testicular cancer
- Heaviness in the scrotum
- Lump or swelling in either testicle
- Pain in the lower abdomen or back
- Not able to father children (infertility)
Symptoms in other parts of the body, such as the lungs, abdomen, pelvis, back, or brain may also occur if the cancer has spread.
Treatment of a Leydig cell tumor depends on its stage.
- Stage I cancer has not spread beyond the testicle.
- Stage II cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the abdomen.
- Stage III cancer has spread beyond the lymph nodes (possibly as far as the liver, lungs, or brain).
Surgery is done to remove the testicle (orchiectomy). Nearby lymph nodes may also be removed (lymphadenectomy).
Chemotherapy may be used to treat this tumor. As Leydig cell tumors are rare, these treatments have not been studied as much as treatments for other, more common testicular cancers.
First Choice Physician Partners
Paul Neustein is an Urologist in Modesto, California. Dr. Neustein and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Leydig Cell Testicular Tumor. His top areas of expertise are UPJ Obstruction, Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), Urinary Tract Infection in Children, Bilateral Hydronephrosis, and Ureteroscopy.
University Of California San Francisco
Sima Porten is an Urologist in San Francisco, California. Dr. Porten and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Leydig Cell Testicular Tumor. Her top areas of expertise are Bladder Cancer, Urothelial Cancer, Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer, Cystectomy, and Nephrectomy.
Merced Urology Medical Group, Inc.
Dennis Cesar is an Urologist in Merced, California. Dr. Cesar and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Leydig Cell Testicular Tumor. His top areas of expertise are Enlarged Prostate (BPH), Urinary Tract Infection in Children, Bladder Outlet Obstruction, and Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).
Joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems can often help ease the stress of illness.
Testicular cancer is one of the most treatable and curable cancers. The outlook is worse if the tumor is not found early.
The cancer may spread to other parts of the body. The most common sites include the:
- Abdomen
- Lungs
- Retroperitoneal area (the area near the kidneys behind the other organs in the belly area)
- Spine
Complications of surgery can include:
- Bleeding and infection
- Infertility (if both testicles are removed)
If you are of childbearing age, ask your provider about methods to save your sperm for use at a later date.
Contact your provider if you have symptoms of testicular cancer.
Performing testicular self-examination (TSE) each month may help detect testicular cancer at an early stage, before it spreads. Finding testicular cancer early is important for successful treatment and survival.
Summary: This phase II trial studies how well cabozantinib works in combination with nivolumab and ipilimumab in treating patients with rare genitourinary (GU) tumors that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body. Cabozantinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as ...
Published Date: June 17, 2024
Published By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Friedlander TW, Small E. Testicular cancer. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 83.
National Cancer Institute website. Testicular cancer treatment (PDQ) – health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/testicular/hp/testicular-treatment-pdq. Updated March 15, 2024. Accessed July 9, 2024.
Stephenson AJ, Gilligan TD. Neoplasms of the testis. In: Partin AW, Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 76.