The spectrum of persistence of testicular blastema and ectopic testicular parenchyma: a possible result of focal delay in gonadal development

Perspectives in Pediatric Pathology, Chapter 3. Testicular Development from Birth to Puberty: Systematic Evaluation of the Prepubertal Testis

“…This lesion should not be misinterpreted as a simple ectopia of seminiferous cords/tubules, like that seen in an otherwise normal, well-collagenized tunica albuginea with an adequate organization in layers. Focal ectopia of seminiferous cords/tubules is not a rare finding in both normal and cryptorchid testes [68,69]. In those testes, the ectopic seminiferous cords/tubules are in continuity with the orthotopic ones and, after puberty, can either show germ cell development or undergo hyalinization.…”

Perspectives in Pediatric Pathology, Chapter 10. Ectopic and Heterotopic Tissues in the Testis

“…Persistent gonadal blastoma is rare, originally observed in both testes of three patients from a total of 3228 consecutive autopsies. The patients were three fetuses: one with spontaneous abortion due to chorioamnionitis; one with elective abortion due to neural tube defect, omphalocele and asymmetrical arthrogryposis; and a third case with proven trisomy 18 and classic features of Edwards syndrome [1].…”

“…These have been compared to a bunch of grapes emerging through a thin tunica albuginea [3]. Ectopia of seminiferous tubules is found frequently in cryptorchidism and is not associated with disorders of sex development [1,2,4].…”

Epididymal Sertoli cell nodule – a diagnostic pitfall

“…In fact, the presence of mature Sertoli cells appears to be strictly related to the presence of seminiferous tubules. Thus, extratesticular Sertoli cells have so far only been described together with seminiferous tubules and germ cells in cases of ectopic testicular parenchyma or persistence of testicular blastema, and nothing is known about migration of Sertoli cells 2,3 …”