Testis Weight and the Histology of the Prostate in Elderly Men

As part of a study of the pituitary gland, adrenal glands and the testis in men with hyperplasia and neoplasia of the prostate, combined testis weight was analysed in a consecutive autopsy series of 172 men over 40 years of age. None had clinically manifest carcinoma of the prostate or had previously been subjected to prostatic surgery. Testis weight varied widely at all ages and showed no clear association with age. Weights below 20 grams were shown in 21 patients (12.2 per cent) and were associated with wasting disease and low body weight. No relationship between the testis weight per se and prostatic histology could be demonstrated at multiple regression analysis. However, in patients who had benign nodular hyperplasia of the prostate, testis weight showed a significant decrease with increasing age. Four of the 54 patients who had carcinoma of the prostate had testis weight under 20 grams. Twenty‐four patients who had undergone prostatic surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia showed testis weights which were similar to those in non‐operated cases.