Testicular lymphoma: Symptoms, treatment, risk factors, and more Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe What to know about testicular lymphomaMedically reviewed by Matt Coward, MD, FACS — By Caitlin Geng on April 11, 2022A lymphoma can first develop in the testes, which doctors call primary testicular lymphoma. It may also start in another organ and spread or metastasize to the testes and other parts of the body. Healthcare professionals refer to this as a secondary testicular lymphoma. Testicular lymphoma is uncommon. A type of cancer known as germ cell tumor is the most common in the testes, and less than 5% of people with testicular cancer have lymphoma. However, testicular lymphoma is the most common type of testicular cancer in individuals over 60 years of age. Keep reading to learn more about testicular lymphoma, including the causes, symptoms, and treatment options. What is it Share on PinterestMauro Grigollo/StocksyTesticular lymphoma is usually a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). NHL is a type of cancer that occurs in the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system and comprises a network of vessels and glands that spread throughout the body. NHL affects lymphocytes, white blood cells that fight infection in the clear fluid that flows through lymphatic vessels. NHL causes the lymphocytes to multiply and collect abnormally within the system, such as in the lymph nodes. This causes the lymphocytes to lose their infection-fighting abilities, leaving a person vulnerable to infection. The most common type of NHL testicular lymphoma is diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which affects white blood cells called B-cell lymphocytes. Testicular lymphoma usually presents as a swelling or mass in the testes. Causes Experts do not know the precise causes of testicular lymphoma, but several viral infections have associations with the disease. These include:HIVEpstein-Barr virus, which causes monoparvovirus B19, which causes erythema infectiosum, or fifth diseasecytomegalovirus infection Symptoms The most common symptom of testicular lymphoma is an enlarged testicle. The swelling does not cause pain, but in some cases, people can experience a sharp pain along with the swelling, and the testes may feel heavier than usual. Depending on whether the lymphoma has spread, a person may experience other symptoms relating to its affected areas. A person may also experience B symptoms, such as night sweats, weight loss, and fever. Risk factors Risk factors for testicular lymphoma include:Age: People over the age of 60 years who have testes are much more likely to develop this type of cancer than younger individuals.Infection of certain other viruses: These include Epstein-Barr virus, HIV, parvovirus B19, and cytomegalovirusExposure to cancer-causing chemicals and radiation Diagnosis There are many possible reasons why a testicle may be swollen or enlarged, and this does not necessarily mean a person has testicular cancer. A doctor can identify other common or simple conditions and rule them out. If they suspect a tumor, they may perform a testicular ultrasound. They may also order blood tests to test for tumor markers. Healthcare professionals will typically avoid a biopsy, which may increase the risk of spreading the cancer. Instead, if they find a tumor, they may perform a simple surgery to remove the testis to identify the kind of tumor. After the doctor has examined the testicle tissue, they can make a diagnosis. A doctor will also stage the cancer according to the size and location of the tumor and whether it has spread to other organs. At this point, they will order CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, but they will shield the testicles during these tests. The doctor will consider the stage and type of lymphoma when developing a treatment plan and estimating the outlook. Treatment Doctors will usually treat testicular cancer by surgically removing the tumor and using techniques to prevent the cancer from recurring in the other testicle and other sites in the body. These treatments may involve:Surgery: Doctors may perform an orchiectomy on the affected testicle. This is also a part of the diagnosis of the type of cancer.Chemotherapy: Doctors typically suggest a chemotherapy regimen, which they refer to as R-CHOP, involving a targeted therapy called rituximab (Rituxan) along with:cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)hydroxydaunorubicin (Adriamycin)vincristine (Oncovin)prednisoneRadiation: Doctors may perform radiation therapy on the pelvic area, which can help reduce the risk of cancer reoccurring in the other testicle.Central nervous system prophylaxis: This involves the injection of chemotherapy directly into the space between thin layers of tissue that cover the spinal cord and brain. Alternatively, they will inject high doses of chemotherapy directly into a vein to kill cancer cells in the central nervous system.Immunotherapy: Doctors call this treatment chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. It is a therapy that modifies the patient’s T cells to help fight and destroy cancer cells in the body. Approved CAR T therapies for testicular lymphoma include Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) and Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel). Outlook Testicular lymphoma is an aggressive cancer and has a higher 5-year survival rate if a doctor diagnoses it at an early stage and the person receives appropriate treatment. An individual’s outlook depends on several factors, including:the size of the tumorthe stage of the cancer at diagnosistheir agethe presence of other symptomsthe spread of cancer to other siteswhich testicle the lymphoma occurs in — lymphoma in the left testicle may worsen the outlook Summary Testicular lymphoma is usually a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which affects white blood cells called lymphocytes in the lymphatic system. This prevents the blood cells from protecting the body, leaving it open to infection. A lymphoma can start in the testes, which healthcare professionals call primary testicular lymphoma. Alternatively, it may start in another organ and spread to the testes and other parts of the body, which doctors call secondary testicular lymphoma. The most common symptom of testicular lymphoma is a swollen or enlarged testis. A doctor may diagnose the cancer by performing blood tests, CT scans, ultrasounds, and by removing the testicle and examining the tissue. Treatment for testicular lymphoma may involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, central nervous system prophylaxis, and immunotherapy. Testicular lymphoma is an aggressive malignant cancer. However, the outlook for this cancer improves with early diagnosis and treatment. Last medically reviewed on April 11, 2022LymphomaMen's HealthCancer / OncologyMedically reviewed by Matt Coward, MD, FACS — By Caitlin Geng on April 11, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? 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