DICER1 screening in 15 paediatric paratesticular sarcomas unveils an unusual DICER1‐associated sarcoma

Abstract

Abstract Individuals with DICER1 syndrome, a genetic disorder caused by pathogenic germline variants in DICER1, are at increased risk of developing a wide array of predominantly childhood onset conditions, including genitourinary sarcomas. However, data on DICER1 involvement in paratesticular sarcomas have not been published. Herein, we analyse a series of 15 paediatric paratesticular sarcomas and describe in detail the case of a male infant with a paratesticular myxoid tumour, considered to be a low‐grade sarcoma, who also manifested a cystic nephroma, a classic DICER1 syndrome phenotype. He harboured a pathogenic germline DICER1 variant and different somatic hot‐spot mutations in each tumour. The paratesticular tumour showed strong and diffuse expression for WT1 and CD10, an unusual immunophenotype in paediatric sarcomas, but typical of tumours of Müllerian origin. The tumour was postulated to arise from the appendix testis, a Müllerian remnant located in the paratestis. Such an origin would be analogous to other DICER1‐associated non‐epithelial gynaecological tumours, thought to arise from Müllerian derivatives. These findings point towards a key role of DICER1 in Müllerian‐derived structures. Supporting this hypothesis is the fact that the other paratesticular sarcomas from the series were either negative or focally positive for WT1 and for CD10, and none had any DICER1 mutations. In summary, we present the first case of a paratesticular sarcoma associated with DICER1 syndrome, emphasising that paratesticular tumours with an unusual histological appearance may suggest an underlying DICER1 mutation, especially in the presence of a personal or family history of DICER1‐associated disease. In this context, DICER1 mutation testing could lead to changes in clinical care including implementation of cancer care surveillance strategies.

Keywords

• DICER1 syndrome
• paratesticular sarcoma
• Müllerian origin
• genitourinary tract
• DICER1 testing