Abstract
Background: Although testicular feminization syndrome (TFS) with Sertoli cell tumor (SCT) has been reported previously, few of these papers discussed the cytologic diagnosis of SCT. We present the cytological and histopathological findings in SCT arising from a gonad of a TFS patient.
Case: This case was a 73-year-old patient, who showed female phenotype, primary amenorrhoea, blind pouched vaginal end and lower abdominal mass. Laboratory studies revealed a raised serum testosterone level and 46, XY-karyotype. Laparotomy disclosed a well-defined large tumor originating from the left gonad. The resected tumor was 25×14×15 cm in size with solid and whitish cut surface. Cytologically, columnar to cuboidal tumor cells showed aclear cytoplasm and round to spindled nuclei containing fine chromatin and a single nucleolus. The cluster of tumor cells showed a tubular or trabecular pattern. Histologically, the right gonad showed a well-differentiated Sertoli cell tumorrand the contralateral gonad showed a non-spermatogenous testis. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells were positive for vimentin and negative for cytokeratin.
Conclusion: In this case the SCT had distictive histopathological features that allow diagnosis from a cytologic specimens. It may be difficult to distinguish poorly differentiated SCT from other primary gonadal tumors or metastatic tumors using only cytological examination.
