Orchiectomy grossing

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Orchiectomy specimen showing testis replaced by tumour (proven to be seminoma). (WC/Ed Uthman)

This article deals with orchiectomy grossing.

Introduction

Orchiectomies are typically done for testicular tumours.

They may be done for chronic pain[1] or to control prostate cancer.

Specimen opening

  • Orient the specimen.
  • Bisect the testis with one cut toward the hilum.
    • Do not cut through.
    • If tumour is a large do additional cuts parallel to the first cut to ensure proper fixation.
  • Place specimen(s) in formalin.

Note:

  • Cutting easier if blade wet before cutting.
  • Inking the cord at the margin and mid section of the cord in different colours allows one to reconstruct the location if one has to go back to the gross.

Protocol

Dimensions and weight:

  • Laterality: [ left / right ].
  • Weight: ___ grams.
  • Testis: ___ x ___ x ___ cm.
  • Epididymis: ___ x ___ x ___ cm.
  • Spermatic cord - length: __ cm, diameter: ___ cm.
  • Inking: [colour].

Tumour:

  • Size: ___ x ___ x ___ cm.
  • Colour: [ tan / white / variable ].
  • Firmness: [ firm / soft ].
  • Morphology: [solid / cystic / solid and cystic - with ___ % cystic].
  • Circumscription: [circumscribed / infiltrative border ].
  • Hemorrhage: [ absent / present ].
  • Necrosis: [ absent / present ].
  • Extension into tunica albuginea: [ not identified / indeterminate / present ].
  • Extension into the epididymis: [ not identified / indeterminate / present ].

Other - after sectioning:

  • Testicular parenchyma: [ brown-tan, unremarkable / ___ ].
  • Spermatic cord: [ unremarkable / ___ ].

Representative sections are submitted as follow:

  • Spermatic cord resection margin, en face.
  • Spermatic cord mid-section, cross section.
  • Spermatic cord close to testis.
  • Tumour in relation to epididymis.
  • Tumour and rete testis.
  • Tumour with testicular coverings.
  • Additional tumour sections.
  • Testis distant from the tumour.

Protocol notes

  • The tumour should be submitted in total if this can be done in less than 10 cassettes.
  • Lester's book (2nd Ed.) recommends 1 cassette per cm of maximal tumour dimension.[2]

Staging

Based on AJCC 7th Edition:[3][4]

Alternate approaches

See also

Related protocols

References

  1. Rönkä, K.; Vironen, J.; Kokki, H.; Liukkonen, T.; Paajanen, H. (Feb 2015). "Role of orchiectomy in severe testicular pain after inguinal hernia surgery: audit of the Finnish Patient Insurance Centre.". Hernia 19 (1): 53-9. doi:10.1007/s10029-013-1150-3. PMID 23929499.
  2. Lester, Susan Carole (2005). Manual of Surgical Pathology (2nd ed.). Saunders. pp. 409. ISBN 978-0443066450.
  3. URL: https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Radiation_Oncology/Testis/Staging. Accessed on: 15 December 2014.
  4. URL: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/testicularcancer/detailedguide/testicular-cancer-staging. Accessed on: 15 December 2014.