Prepubertal testicular neuroendocrine tumor in postpubertal males: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: In 2016, the World Health Organization classification system of testicular tumors included the new entity prepubertal-type testicular neuroendocrine tumor based on its morphological and molecular profile, and the realization that these tumors may occur in postpubertal men. For treatment and prognostic purposes, it is important to distinguish prepubertal-type testicular neuroendocrine tumor from the usual postpubertal-type testicular neuroendocrine tumor, because the former is benign unlike the latter. The distinction may be challenging. Therefore, we hope that ultrasound examination can play an important role in the differential diagnosis of testicular tumors. CASE PRESENTATIONS: These two cases involved postpubertal males, one is 41-years-old and the other is 62-years-old, they both are Chinese and of the Han ethnicity. Both ultimately underwent surgical treatment without subsequent chemotherapy or other interventions. Up to now, during follow-up, the patients have exhibited no other symptoms. CONCLUSION: Prepubertal-type testicular neuroendocrine tumor is a rare neuroendocrine tumor, and accounts for about 0.23% of testicular tumors. Clinical manifestations and images of it are not specific, routine ultrasound has significant advantages for early detection of lesions and short-term follow-up, and when combined with relevant laboratory tests, it may aid in the diagnosis of the disease, and the treatment is mainly radical surgery, and the prognosis is good.