Testis & paratestis

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Splenogonadal fusion



Last author update: 1 December 2012
Last staff update: 9 September 2020

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PubMed Search: Splenogonadal fusion

Sean R. Williamson, M.D.
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Cite this page: Williamson S. Splenogonadal fusion. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/testissplenogonadal.html. Accessed March 29th, 2024.
Definition / general
  • Also called ectopic scrotal spleen, testicular splenic fusion
  • Rare congenital condition of gonad fusing with ectopic splenic tissue; patients usually present before age 20, 50%+ are less than age 10
  • In males, involves left testis only; occurs in females also
  • Fusion may be continuous (attaching to spleen) or discontinuous (intrascrotal splenic nodules attached to testis, spermatic cord, epididymis, appendix of testis or appendix of epididymis)
    • Continuous form is associated with limb bud anomalies such as peromelia (severe congenital anomalies of extremities identical to thalidomide embryopathy) and micrognatia (small jaw)
    • Discontinuous type is rarely associated with cardiac defects
Case reports
Gross description
  • Splenic tissue well demarcated from gonad
Microscopic (histologic) description
  • Normal splenic parenchyma with variable fibrosis, thrombi, calcification, fatty degeneration, hemosiderin
Microscopic (histologic) images

Case #309
Differential diagnosis
  • Lymphoproliferative tumor
  • Sarcoma
  • Teratoma
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