Testis & paratestis
Ovarian type tumors
Brenner tumor
Author: Jennifer B. Gordetsky, M.D.
Last author update: 1 August 2013
Last staff update: 11 September 2020
Copyright: 2003-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Brenner tumor testis
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Epidemiology | Pathophysiology | Clinical features | Radiology description | Prognostic factors | Case reports | Treatment | Gross description | Microscopic (histologic) description | Positive stains | Negative stains | Electron microscopy description | Differential diagnosis | Additional referencesCite this page: Gordetsky J. Brenner tumor. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/testisbrenner.html. Accessed April 24th, 2024.
Definition / general
- Extremely rare tumor of testis and paratesticular regions composed of transitional type epithelium; usually occurs in ovary
- Also called transitional cell tumor
Epidemiology
- Age range 37 - 70 years (mean 57.7)
Pathophysiology
- Etiology unknown; may originate from Walthard rests within tunica vaginalis or transitional epithelial nests located in testicular / paratesticular locations
Clinical features
- Testicular mass, testicular pain
- Must rule out metastatic urothelial carcinoma
Radiology description
- Ultrasound remains imaging modality of choice for evaluation of scrotal masses
Prognostic factors
- Almost always benign (Am J Clin Pathol 1986;86:146); one malignant case reported (Arch Pathol Lab Med 1991;115:524)
Case reports
- 37 year old man with mixed Brenner and adenomatoid tumor (Cancer 1979;43:539)
- 41 year old man (Cancer 1970;26:853)
- 61 year old man (Cancer 1968;21:722)
- 62 year old man with malignant Brenner tumor of testis and epididymis (Arch Pathol Lab Med 1991;115:524)
Treatment
- Orchiectomy
Gross description
- Solid and cystic masses, 1 to 5 cm
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Nests of transitional cells (solid or cystic) with fibrous or cellular spindle cell stroma
- Nests show mostly a pavement type arrangement with some focal columnar type cell appearance
- Nuclei are round to oval, some with nucleoli and longitudinal nuclear grooves
- Focal mucinous differentiation has been reported
Positive stains
- CK7: cytoplasmic staining
- Uroplakin III: cytoplasmic and membrane staining
- WT1: focal; nuclear staining
Electron microscopy description
- Cells with complex interdigitations interlocking their plasma membranes, which are otherwise joined by tight desmosomes
- Small intercellular spaces containing elongated projections of cytoplasm
- Cytoplasm contains microfilaments, poorly preserved mitochondria and ribosomes
- Deep nuclear clefts (Cancer 1979;43:539)
Differential diagnosis
Additional references
