A mineralized testicular granuloma.
Keywords: unknown, equine, mass, granuloma, testicle, stallionA hard, sphere-like structure was palpated within the testicle of a two year old Standardbred stallion during routine castration. Before dissection, it was radiographed. As seen below, the structure was partially radio-opaque, indicating a degree of mineralization.
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The structure was easily shelled-out of the testicle. There were no macroscopic signs of tissue reaction and no obvious capsule surrounded the structure. The mass was cut in half with some pressure, using a large scalpel blade. Sections of the structure and the tissue immediately surrounding it were taken for histology.
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The collective wisdom of three board certified veterinary pathologists was summoned. Their diagnosis was as follows:
"A chronic granolumatous reaction that may have arisen as result of trauma, parasite migration or perhaps a foreign body"
There was indeed a capsule but it was deep within the mass. The histological report continued:
"The mass is not neoplastic but has a well encapsulated, center of chronic inflammation. The capsule consists of collagen with a moderate infiltrations of round cells, mainly macrophages and lymphocytes. There are occasional eosinophils. Cells within the mass resemble degenerate hepatocytes but they cannot be further identified. There are also many lymphocytes diffusely distributed within the mass".
