A case of malignant abdominal pain.

Background: Testicular cancer is a common neoplasm in young and middle-aged men. Although the most common presentation is a palpable testicular mass, it can present with atypical symptoms. There is a lack of awareness among primary-care physicians about the less common presentations of testicular tumors. Early detection is a key prognostic variable. This case demonstrates an unusual first presentation of testicular cancer with chylous ascites and abdominal pain.

Case Report: We report a case of a 19-year-old man who presented with severe atypical abdominal pain, which was initially diagnosed as acute appendicitis. He underwent laparoscopic appendectomy and was found to have chylous ascites and a normal-appearing appendix. As part of his work-up for chylous ascites, he was found to have mesenteric lymphadenopathy. These nodes were sampled and revealed a mixed germ cell tumor. The primary tumor was later traced to his right testis.

Conclusions: The differential diagnosis of atypical abdominal pain in young men should include testicular tumors. A thorough testicular exam should be part of the routine physical exam in such situations.