Testicular Mesothelioma
Testicular Mesothelioma
Testicular mesothelioma is a rare form of asbestos-related cancer: less than 100 cases have been reported. Testicular mesothelioma forms in the tunica vaginalis, which is the membrane surrounding the testicles. This lining is intended to provide protection and support to the testicles, but can be compromised with exposure to asbestos.
In some cases, the development of a mesothelioma tumor in the testicular lining is a secondary tumor, its growth following the development of a primary tumor in the abdominal lining (a type of mesothelioma known as peritoneal mesothelioma).
Symptoms of Testicular Mesothelioma
Because we have seen so few cases of this form of mesothelioma, doctors do not have as clear of an understanding about the types of symptoms typical to testicular mesothelioma. However, reports from patients who have developed this cancer, we know that the development of testicular lumps and scrotum swelling are common symptoms of testicular mesothelioma.
Diagnosing Testicular Mesothelioma
Because other symptoms do not often accompany these, a diagnosis of testicular mesothelioma is not often made until the testicular lumps appear. In other cases, testicular mesothelioma is diagnosed after a patient undergoes surgery for another purpose. For example, a patient may go in for a hernia repair surgery, doctors run a biopsy on the tissues, and discover the presence of malignant (cancerous) tissues.
Testicular mesothelioma may also be detected after the diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma, as there is a link between the primary development of mesothelioma tumors in the abdominal lining, and subsequent development of secondary tumors in the testicular tissues.
Treatment for testicular mesothelioma
As with the other types of mesothelioma, testicular mesothelioma is aggressive and difficult to treat. Depending on the stage of the cancer, doctors may recommend removing one or both testicles. After this type of testicular mesothelioma surgery, doctors may recommend following up with chemotherapy or radiation, or both, to attempt destruction of any remaining cancer cells.
If the cancer has already metastasized (spread) beyond the testicles, other forms of treatment may be necessary. See our page about mesothelioma treatment to learn more about the different ways mesothelioma is treated.
