Leydig cell tumors are rare growths that develop in the testicles or ovaries from cells that produce testosterone. They can cause the development of masculine or feminine characteristics and may be benign or malignant. Treatment varies depending on the type of tumor.
A Leydig cell tumor is a rare type of growth that most often develops in the testicles or testicles. It gets its name because it develops from cells known as Leydig cells, which normally produce testosterone inside the testicles. Most Leydig cell tumors are benign or noncancerous, but about ten percent of the cases are malignant or cancerous. A Leydig cell tumor often produces hormones that can cause the development of feminine or masculine characteristics, depending on the specific hormone secreted. Occasionally, Leydig cell tumors in women can develop from Leydig cells within the ovaries.
Most testicular cancers arise from what are called germ cells, the cells from which sperm develop. Tumors originate in non-germ cells in only about 20% of cases. A Leydig cell tumor is an example of a non-germ cell tumor. It is also an interstitial cell tumor, because Leydig cells make up the so-called interstitial tissue that lies between the seminiferous tubules, the tubes in which sperm are created.
Other non-germ cell tumors found in the testicles include Sertoli cell tumor, which develops from Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules, and Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor, which contains a mixture of the two cell types. Leydig and Sertoli cells are also found in women. Here they can give rise to gynecological ovarian cancer.
Leydig cell tumors are usually discovered in men and the cause is unknown. There may be no symptoms, but sometimes a Leydig cell tumor can cause a painless lump that is large enough to feel. If tumors secrete excessive amounts of male hormones, this can give rise to what are known as androgen-dependent syndromes, causing precocious puberty in boys and masculinization in women. Sometimes, female hormones can be produced by a Leydig cell tumor, leading to physical changes such as breast enlargement in males. Occasionally, the testicle may feel painful or uncomfortable.
Treatment of a Leydig cell tumor varies depending on whether it is malignant or not. Sometimes a benign tumor can be surgically removed without removing the testicle. Malignant tumors are testicular cancer, and as with other types of cancer, treatment and outlook depend on how far the disease has spread. Surgery and chemotherapy are the main treatment options, and the testicle and nearby lymph nodes may need to be removed. For people with benign tumours, the outlook is generally positive.
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