Case Report
Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome (PMDS) with Testicular Seminoma
Ray MD, Kumar S, Bhoriwal S, Mishra A, Padmanaban N and Gowda SM*
Department of Surgical Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India
*Corresponding author: Manoj Gowda S, Department of Surgical Oncology, Dr BRA Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
Published: 15 Sep, 2016
Cite this article as: Ray MD, Kumar S, Bhoriwal S, Mishra
A, Padmanaban N, Gowda SM.
Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome
(PMDS) with Testicular Seminoma. Clin
Surg. 2016; 1: 1119.
Abstract
Introduction: Persistent mullerian duct syndrome is a rare disorder in 46, XY male with persistent
mullerian duct structures (uterus, fallopian tubes and vagina). 15% of cryptorchid testes will have
malignant transformation.
Case Report: A 39 year old male presented with pain abdomen since 1 year. CT scan showed a mass
in rectovesical pouch and mesentery. Biopsy was seminoma testis. AFP level was normal. After
3 cycles of chemotherapy (BEP) excision of both masses done. Pathological examination showed
uterus and fallopian tube with leidig cell hyperplasia in right testis.
Conclusion: Surgeons and pathologists should be aware of such a diagnosis in any patient who
presents with undescended testis and mass behind urinary bladder in imaging.
Keywords: Persistent mullerian duct syndrome; Seminoma; Cryptorchidism
Introduction
Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome (PMDS) is a rare form of disorder of sexual development (DSD), first described by nilson in 1939 [1]. It is an autosomal recessive disorder in which genetically and phenotypically male subjects have persistence of mullerian duct structures (Uterus, fallopian tubes and the upper part of vagina) due to a deficiency in the anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) produced by Sertoli cells, or its type II receptor (AMHR-II), and can result from a deficiency of antimullerian hormone (AMH) or a defect in the receptor gene [2,3]. The syndrome is rare, with only about 150 cases described in the literature to date [4] and only few cases of malignant transformation are reported. Similar to cryptorchidism, the gonads of PMDS patients are at an increased risk for malignant transformation. Embryonal carcinoma, seminoma, yolk sac tumor, and teratomas have been seen in patients having PMDS [5]. The overall incidence of malignant change is 15-18% [6]. We report a case of PMDS with seminoma testis.
Materials and Methods
A 39 year old unmarried male presented with pain abdomen since 1 year. He had B/L undescended testes and had undergone left sided hernia repair with left orchidectomy 12 years back. On examination scrotum was empty, penis was well developed and no other abnormality was detected. CT scan showed 7cmx 5 cm mass behind the bladder. Few smaller similar density masses were found in small bowel mesentery (Figure 1). Biopsy from this mass was suggestive of seminoma testis. His AFP was 1.65 ng/ml, B-hcg was < 1.20 mIU/ml and LDH was 388.3. Patient received 3 cycles of chemotherapy (BEP). Intraoperatively soft tissue mass was present in pelvis behind the urinary bladder looking like uterus, b/l fallopian tube and blind ending upper vagina with right gonad. Left sided gonad was absent. Two separate mesenteric masses present in small bowel mesentery. Pelvic mass was excised along with excision of the mesenteric mass (Figure 2). Histopathological examination revealed right gonad to have hyalinised seminiferous tubules with leydig cell hyperplasia. No tumor was seen. Section from attached tubular structure showed fallopian tube segment. Sections of the globular tissue shows uterus with focal collection of foamy histiocytes with in uterine wall. Sections from the mesenteric mass showed areas of hyalinization, dystrophic calcification and interspersed thick walled vessels. Karyotypic analysis shows 46, XY chromosomal complement.
Discussion
PMDS is a rare form of male pseudo hermaphroditism. It is characterized by the persistence of
mullerian duct structures and cryptorchid testis or testes in a 46, XY karyotypic male [6]. It may be
detected in infancy or adulthood. PMDS is thought to result from the
synthesis or release of MIF or from the defective MIF receptor. The
MIF gene is located on Chr 19p. From 7th week of gestation onwards
sertoli cells of fetal testis releases MIF which causes regression of
mullerian duct. Any defect in this normal pathway leads to persistence
of mullerian duct structures. This remnant Mullerian structures
lead to cryptorchidism by hindering the normal testicular descent
[7]. The secretion and response of target organs to testosterone are
not affected, so the wolffian duct structures and external genitalia
progress to a normal male. PMDS is divided in to three types based
on the location of testes and uterus. Type I (60-70%): Have intraabdominal
mullerian structures and testes in a position analogous to
that of ovaries, type II (20-30%) also known as hernia uteri inguinal
is have one testis in hernial sac or scrotum together with mullerian
structures and type III (10%): have both testes located in the same
hernia sac along with fallopian tubes and uterus (transverse testicular
ectopia) [2].
Due to its rarity PMDS is rarely diagnosed before surgery. It is
usually diagnosed postoperatively with the identification of mullerian
duct structures on histopathological examination. In our case
testicular seminoma was found in right testis with uterus and fallopian
tube. Left testis was already removed during previous hernia surgery.
Surgeons should be ready to face such surprises intraoperatively. The
risk of malignancy in an ectopic testis in a case of PMDS is similar to
that in a cryptorchid testis in a healthy male [8]. Germ cell tumors
have been reported in the testis, whereas tumors of the Mullerian duct
derivatives are very rare [9].
Figure 1
Figure 1
A: Showing mesenteric mass. B: Showing mass behind urinary
bladder. C: Mass behind urinary bladder. D: Blind ending vagina behind the
bladder.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A: Intraoperative picture of the uterus and B/L fallopian tube with
right side gonad. B: Post Operative specimen.
Conclusion
PMDS with seminoma is a rare entity. Because of its rarity it is difficult to diagnose preoperatively and hence it is difficult to predict intraoperatively. Surgeons and pathologists should be aware of this situation when dealing with cryptorchidism and malignancy in it. The risk of developing malignancy and other symptoms is higher in an intra-abdominal testis. When attempting for surgery for seminoma in such a scenario the mullerian remnants should also be removed.
References
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