Frequency of canine testicular tumors: study on 100 dogs

Testicular tumours occur both in canine and human species. However, while the incidence of these tumours in man is has been constantly investigated and demonstrated an increase during last decades, a few data are published about the frequency of testicular tumours in canine species. The present study attempts to give an up-date on the frequency of testicular tumours in dogs. The histological examination of testes collected at necropsy from 100 dogs revealed the presence of testicular tumours in 21 subjects (21%). A total of 41 tumours were observed: 19 seminomas, 16 interstitial cell tumours and 4 Sertoli cell tumours. Bilateral tumours were detected in 8 of the 21 dogs. Moreover, 5 dogs showed more than one type of testicular tumour. The results of the present study demonstrate a high frequency of testicular tumours in the dog. Recently, the pathogenesis of human testicular tumours has been associated with the exposure to pesticides and plastic derived phthalates. Further studies are required to investigate if these substances can also play a role in the pathogenesis of canine testicular tumours.