Unilateral testicular tumour associated to congenital adrenal hyperplasia: Failure of specific tumoral molecular markers to discriminate between adrenal rest and leydigioma.

Testicular adrenal rest tumours are frequently associated with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). These ACTH-dependent tumours cannot be easily distinguished histologically from Leydig-cell tumours. We report the case of a 30-year-old man who was explored for infertility, azoospermia and unilateral testicular tumour. High levels of 17-OH progesterone and ACTH, low cortisol and undetectable gonadotropins levels, associated to bilateral adrenal hyperplasia, led to the diagnosis of CAH by 21-OH deficiency with a composite heterozygoty. The testicular tumour was first considered as adrenal rest. However, histological analysis of this unilateral painful tumour showed a steroid-hormone-secreting cell proliferation with atypical and frequent mitosis. To discriminate between a benign adrenal rest tumour and a possible malignant leydigioma, tumoral expression of specific gene products was analyzed by RT-PCR. No 11-beta-hydroxylase nor ACTH receptor mRNAs could be found in the tumour, which did not behave like usual adrenal rest cells. For this unilateral testicular tumour, the lack of adrenal-specific markers associated with a high rate of mitosis and pleiomorphism supported a leydigian origin with malignant potential. However, lack of tumoral LH-R mRNA expression and a tumour-free 3-year follow-up led us to retain the diagnosis of adrenal rest tumour with loss of adrenal gene expression and progressive autonomous behaviour.

[Cancer of the prostate. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of extracapsular extension]. / Cancer de prostate. La tomodensitométrie et l'imagerie par résonance magnétique nucléaire dans l'évaluation du franchissement capsulaire.

The stage of the tumor is commonly underestimated prior to radical prostatectomy for carcinoma. Can the growth of clinically localized carcinomas beyond their capsule be predicted with the modern medical imaging techniques (MRI and CT)? On the basis of 30 successive prostatectomies, we conclude that CT is ineffective. On the contrary, MRI seems to be an effective technique for this indication. However, no examination yet is better than clinical assessment.

[Can CT scanner and MRI predict capsular invasion of local cancer of the prostate? A study of 20 radical prostatectomies]. / Le scanner et l'IRM peuvent-ils prédire l'envahissement capsulaire des cancers de prostate localisés? Etude de vingt prostatectomies radicales.

Spread beyond the capsule is a poor prognosis factor in clinically localized carcinomas of the prostate; preoperative diagnosis is difficult and clinical evaluation usually underestimates tumor spread. This prospective study was undertaken to confront results of the conventional workup (rectal examination, transrectal ultrasonography and PSA) and of CT scan and MRI findings with findings upon the pathologic study of operative specimens following radical prostatectomy. Results show that the conventional workup remains the diagnostic gold standard and that CT scan yields no additional information. Technically faultless MRI with sections in the three planes is a good means for analyzing the capsule of the prostate.