Cystic dysplasia of the epididymis: A disorder of mesonephric differentiation associated with renal maldevelopment

Manuel Nistal, Pilar González-Peramato, Grevelyn Sousa, Miguel Angel García-Cabezas, José Ignacio Rodríguez, Mariana M. Cajaiba

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

The occurrence of congenital epididymal malformations with a cystic component has not been fully characterized. Most epididymal cysts occur later in life and are likely acquired. In addition, congenital malformations of themale excretory system are extremely uncommon in fetuses and neonates, and epididymal dysplastic changes have not been reported in these cases. In this study, we report 20 cases (including 19 fetal/neonatal autopsies and one surgical specimen from an older child) showing the same spectrum of histological findings in the epididymis, characterized by cystic ductal dilation with dysplastic ducts of variable diameters and irregular shapes, with ill-defined walls. Efferent ductules also showed dysplastic features. In addition, 18 cases had either renal and/or urinary tract anomalies, including renal dysplasia (eight), pelvicaliceal dilation (eight), renal agenesis (four) and hypoplasia (one), ureteral agenesis (two) and hypoplasia (one), urethra and bladder agenesis (two), prostate agenesis (two), and autosomal recessive polycystic renal disease (two). Our observations led to the recognition of a peculiar, not previously described congenital lesion of the epididymis, and we propose the term cystic dysplasia of the epididymis for this anomaly. Similar to what is observed in other male genital system anomalies (including malformations of the rete testis, vas deferens, and seminal vesicles), most lesions occurred in association with renal and/or urinary tract malformations, suggesting a spectrum of congenital malformations. The shared embryological origin of these structures may explain their simultaneous occurrence, possibly related to disrupted mesonephric duct development.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)695-702
Number of pages8
JournalVirchows Archiv
Volume456
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2010

Keywords

  • Congenital
  • Cyst
  • Dysplasia
  • Epididymis
  • Kidney
  • Malformation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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