-IBIS-1.5.0-
tx
reproductive system
testicular cancer
diagnoses

definition and etiology

definition:
Malignancy of the testis.

etiology:
Testicular cancer causes about 1% of all cancers in men. It is the most common cancer in young men under 30, and the average age of patient is 32. It has a high association with cryptorchidism: with the cancer affecting either the cryptorchic or the contralateral testis more than in descended testes. Other factors predisposing to testicular cancer include mumps orchitis, childhood inguinal hernia, and a history of cancer in the other testis.

signs and symptoms

signs and symptoms:
Typically asymptomatic early in the course.
• Testicular mass found on palpation: 96% of solid tumors of the testis are malignant. They do not transilluminate.
• Metastatic symptoms: abdominal mass, urinary obstruction, pulmonary symptoms.

lab findings:
• (+) RIA for alpha-fetoprotein and beta-HCG.
• Abdominal CT scan for staging.
• X-ray of cheat and lungs to check for metastases.
• Pedal lymphangiography.
• Excretory urogram.
• Laparotomy.

course and prognosis

Conventionally, surgery is the normal treatment, though radiation is often used. Chemotherapy may be used before surgery or for those in whom irradiation fails to work. In seminomas, irradiation can produce 5-year survival rates of 91%. In nonseminous malignancies, treatment may yield a complete response in 90% of minimal disease cases; however, if the disease has spread seriously, the response rate drops to 20%.

differential diagnosis

• Epididymitis.
• Spermatocele.
• Hydrocele.
• Orchitis.
• Infarction.
• Trauma.
• Benign tumor: rare.


footnotes