Tumores testiculares bilaterais por hiperplasia congênita de restos adrenais / Bilateral testicular tumors caused by congenital adrenal rest hyperplasia

OBJETIVOS: Tumores testiculares são uma rara condição associada à hiperplasia adrenal congênita (HAC) que decorrem da hiperplasia de restos adrenais intratesticulares (HRA), raramente ocorrendo associados a neoplasias malignas. Sua diferenciação histológica com tumores de células de Leydig é muito difícil, podendo levar a orquiectomias desnecessárias. O objetivo deste relato foi apresentar esse dilema diagnóstico em um paciente com HAC e tumores testiculares bilaterais. MÉTODOS: Relatou-se o caso de um paciente masculino, 16 anos, com diagnóstico de HAC desde os 3 anos de idade, que apresentava tumorações testiculares endurecidas, indolores e de crescimento lento, sendo encaminhado para orquiectomia bilateral. RESULTADOS: Foi decidido por tratamento conservador com prednisona, havendo significativa diminuição do volume testicular e normalização dos níveis de andrógenos. CONCLUSÃO: Este caso demonstra a importância de sempre se considerar a hipótese de HRA intratesticulares no diagnóstico diferencial dos tumores testiculares. A investigação e a conduta devem ser conduzidas de maneira cautelosa para se evitar orquiectomias desnecessárias.

OBJECTIVES: Testicular tumors are a rare condition associated with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), originated from intratesticular adrenal rest tumors, and they are rarely associated with malignant tumors. Their histological differentiation from Leydig-cell tumors is quite difficult, which would lead to inappropriate orchiectomies. Thus the objective of this report was to present this diagnostic dilemma. METHODS: Reported the case of 16-yr-old boy with previous diagnosis of CAH with bilateral testicular enlargement who was recommended to be submitted to a bilateral orchiectomy. RESULTS: Considering this findings, it was decided to treat conventionally with prednisone with significant reduction of testicular volume, and normalization of androgens levels. CONCLUSION: This case shows the importance of intratesticular adrenal rest tumors in the differential diagnosis of testicular tumors. Cautious approach during investigation and treatment are recommended to avoid inappropriate orchiectomies.

Hormonotoxins: synthesis, characterization and bioefficacy of some defined disulfide linked conjugates of ovine LH with a ribosome inactivating protein, gelonin.

In order to synthesise a bioeffective hormonotoxin for selective targeting to specific cells in the gonads, gelonin, a single chain RIP obtained from an Indian plant, Gelonium multiflorum of Euphorbeaceae family was covalently linked to oLH with the use of N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate, generating a linkage containing a disulfide bond and a amide bond. The hormonotoxins were separated according to their molecular weight (indirectly according to oLH:gelonin molar ratio) and a complete biochemical analysis was performed. The linkage occurred through the epsilon-NH2 group of alpha oLH as judged from RP-HPLC analysis. The conjugates were devoid of ingredients as determined by SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC analysis. The hormonotoxins retained substantial receptor binding, steroidogenic activity and immunoreactivity of oLH and gelonin to their antibodies. Hormonotoxins bind to the Leydig tumour cells via oLH part leaving gelonin free as judged by competitive displacement analysis. The hormonotoxin was internalized to the sufficient degree to effectively inhibit protein synthesis. The cytotoxicity of 1:1 molar ratio conjugate was relatively higher than that of others. The cytotoxicity of presently described more defined hormonotoxins exhibited higher receptor binding and cytotoxicity than the hormonotoxins reported earlier [Singh, et al., J Biol Chem, 264 (1989) 3089].