Primary signet ring stromal tumor of the testis: a study of 13 cases indicating their phenotypic and genotypic analogy to pancreatic solid pseudopapillary neoplasm.

ABSTRACT

Primary signet ring stromal tumor of the testis (PSRSTT) is an extremely rare tumor described only twice in the literature. Pancreatic-analogue solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the testis is a recently reported entity with morphological overlap with PSRSTT. We reviewed our files to find all cases of PSRSTT to better characterize this entity. We studied 13 cases of PSRSTTs using histological, immunohistochemical (IHC), and molecular genetic methods and compared the results with pancreatic SPN. Grossly, the size of PSRSTTs ranged from 0.5 to 2 cm (mean 1.1). Microscopically, PSRSTTs predominantly showed a proliferation of low-grade epithelioid cells containing characteristic cytoplasmic vacuole dislodging the nucleus (signet ring cells) separated by fibrous septa into trabeculae and nests. The immunoprofile was characterized by immunoreactivity for ß-catenin, cyclin D1 (nuclear positivity for both antibodies), CD10, vimentin, galectin-3, claudin 7, α-1-antitrypsin, CD56, and neuron-specific enolase and negativity for chromogranin, inhibin, calretinin, SF-1, NANOG, OCT3/4, and SALL4. In some cases, the IHC panel was restricted because of a limited amount of tissue. Molecular genetic analysis revealed mutations within exon 3 of the CTNNB1 encoding ß-catenin in all analyzable cases. Based on histological similarities between pancreatic SPN and PSRSTT and their identical IHC and molecular genetic features, we assume that both neoplasms share the same pathogenesis, and thus, PSRSTT can be considered as a testicular analogue of pancreatic SPN.