Segmental testicular infarction due to cholesterol embolism: Not the first case, but the first report

• Published in: Pathology international Vol. 58; no. 11; pp. 745 - 748
• Main Authors: Adachi, Shiro, Tsutahara, Koh‐ichi, Kinoshita, Tatsuya, Hatano, Koji, Kinouchi, Toshio, Kobayashi, Masao, Inoue, Hitoshi, Takada, Tsuyoshi, Hara, Tsuneo, Yamaguchi, Seiji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01.11.2008
• Subjects: cholesterol embolism; Diagnosis, Differential; Embolism, Cholesterol - complications; Embolism, Cholesterol - pathology; Embolism, Cholesterol - surgery; Humans; Infarction - etiology; Infarction - pathology; Infarction - surgery; Male; Middle Aged; segmental infarction; Spermatic Cord Torsion - pathology; Testicular Diseases - etiology; Testicular Diseases - pathology; Testicular Diseases - surgery; testis; Testis - blood supply; Testis - pathology; Testis - surgery
• ISSN: 1320-5463; 1440-1827
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1827.2008.02304.x

Segmental infarction of the testis represents a rare entity in that there have been fewer than 40 cases documented in the literature. Like global infarction, segmental infarction of the testis can masquerade as a mass lesion or torsion of the testis. Reported herein is a very rare case of segmental testicular infarction due to atheroembolism in a 58‐year‐old man. The patient presented with severe left testicular pain and underwent left high orchiectomy on the clinical diagnosis of testicular torsion. The testis had a segmental hemorrhagic necrosis around which many cholesterol emboli were observed. This is the first report to describe cholesterol embolism‐associated segmental testicular infarction.