Leydig cell tumor is a testicular tumor with a low incidence accounting for 1–3% of testicular neoplasms.
Only about 10% of them show malignant behavior in the form of metastatic disease.
When diagnosed and treated early, long-term favorable outcomes are seen even with its potential metastatic behavior.
Leydig cell tumor constitutes only about 1–3% of testicular neoplasms. There is apparently increased incidence in the last few years; one possible explanation for this phenomenon is the widespread use of ultrasound technology and the subsequent increased early detection of smaller lesions that have not been found in historical series.
We report a case of Leydig cell tumor of testis in a patient presenting with painless long standing slowly growing left scrotal mass who found to have intrapulmonary nodule and multiple enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes on staging work up. The mass was managed by radical orchiectomy. Pathological diagnosis was Leydig cell tumor.
Orchiectomy is the accepted mode of treatment but follow-up every 3–6 months with physical examination, hormone assays, scrotal and abdominal ultrasonography, chest radiography, and CT scans is essential in such a case with a potential for malignant behavior.
Inguinal orchiectomy is the therapeutic decision of choice and long-term follow-up is necessary to exclude recurrence or metastasis. Cases which fall in the grey zone like ours need to be followed up carefully for metastasis instead of rushing into an early retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, with its potential risks and complications.