Background Vasitis nodosa is a nodular lesion within the vas deferens that is characterized by a benign glandular proliferation of the vas deferens epithelium mixed with sperm and chronic inflammation. It is considered a reactive condition caused by increased intraluminal pressure. Problems in diagnosis can arise when atypical morphologic features are present or when vasitis nodosa is colonized by metastatic tumors. Case presentation: A 25-year old African American male status post vasectomy was diagnosed with obstructive azoospermia and elected to undergo a vasovasostomy. The histology of the resected specimen was consistent with vasitis nodosa, but the proliferative epithelial cells demonstrated the phenotypes of both vas deferens epithelium and mesothelium by immunohistochemistry. Conclusion This is the first reported case of vasitis nodosa expressing mesothelial markers, and it may therefore mimic mesothelial tumors such as mesothelioma and adenomatoid tumor.

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Background: Vasitis nodosa is a nodular lesion within the vas deferens that is characterized by a benign glandular proliferation of the vas deferens epithelium mixed with sperm and chronic inflammation. It is considered a reactive condition caused by increased intraluminal pressure. Problems in diagnosis can arise when atypical morphologic features are present or when vasitis nodosa is colonized by metastatic tumors. Case presentation: A 25-year old African American male status post vasectomy was diagnosed with obstructive azoospermia and elected to undergo a vasovasostomy. The histology of the resected specimen was consistent with vasitis nodosa, but the proliferative epithelial cells demonstrated the phenotypes of both vas deferens epithelium and mesothelium by immunohistochemistry. Conclusion: Vasitis nodosa expressing mesothelial markers is the first reported case report of its kind, and it may therefore mimic mesothelial tumors such as mesothelioma and adenomatoid tumor.