Testicular cancer begins as a scrotal mass, which is usually not painful. Diagnosis is by ultrasonography. Treatment is with orchiectomy and sometimes lymph node dissection, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination, depending on histology and stage.
In the United States, about 9190 new cases of testicular cancer and about 470 deaths (2023 estimates) occur each year (1). Testicular cancer is the most common solid cancer in males aged 15 to 35. Incidence is 2.5 to 20 times higher in patients with cryptorchidism. This excess risk is decreased or eliminated if orchiopexy is done before 10 years of age. Cancer can also develop in the contralateral normally descended testis. The cause of testicular cancer is unknown.
Most testicular cancers originate in primordial germ cells. Germ cell tumors are categorized as seminomas (40%) or nonseminomas (tumors containing any nonseminomous elements; 60%). Nonseminomas include teratomas, embryonal carcinomas, endodermal sinus tumors (yolk sac tumors), and choriocarcinomas. Histologic combinations are common; eg, teratocarcinoma contains teratoma plus embryonal carcinoma. Functional interstitial cell carcinomas of the testis are rare (< 5%).
Even patients with apparently localized tumors may have occult nodal or visceral metastases. For example, almost 30% of patients with nonseminomas will relapse with nodal or visceral metastases if they undergo no treatment after orchiectomy. Risk of metastases is highest for choriocarcinoma and lowest for teratoma.
Tumors originating in the epididymis, testicular appendages, and spermatic cord are usually benign fibromas, fibroadenomas, adenomatoid tumors, and lipomas. Sarcomas, most commonly rhabdomyosarcoma, occur occasionally, primarily in children.
DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
General reference
1. American Cancer Society: Key statistics for testicular cancer. Accessed September 10, 2023.
Symptoms and Signs of Testicular Cancer
Most patients present with a scrotal mass, which is painless or sometimes associated with dull, aching pain. In a few patients, hemorrhage into the tumor may cause acute local pain and tenderness. Many patients discover the mass themselves after minor scrotal trauma. Rarely, patients with widely metastatic disease present with symptoms related to their metastases (eg, abdominal pain, low back pain, confusion or headaches, shortness of breath, chest pain).
Diagnosis of Testicular Cancer
Ultrasonography for scrotal masses
Exploration if testicular mass is present
Staging by abdominal, pelvic, and chest CT as well as tissue examination
Many patients discover the mass themselves during self-examination. Monthly self-examination should be encouraged among young men.
The origin and nature of scrotal masses must be determined accurately because most testicular masses are malignant, but most extratesticular masses are not; distinguishing between the two during physical examination may be difficult. Scrotal ultrasonography can confirm testicular origin. If a testicular mass is confirmed, serum tumor markers (AFP, beta-HCG, and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]) should be measured and a chest x-ray taken. Serum markers may help differentiate benign from cancerous masses but results are not definitive. Then, radical orchiectomy via an inguinal approach is indicated; the spermatic cord is exposed and clamped before the abnormal testis is manipulated.
If cancer is confirmed, abdominal, pelvic, and chest CT is needed for clinical staging using the standard TNM (tumor, node, metastasis) system (see tables AJCC/TNM Staging of Testicular Cancer and TNM and Serum Marker Definitions for Testicular Cancer). Tissue obtained during treatment (usually radical inguinal orchiectomy) helps provide important histopathologic information, particularly about the proportion of histologic types and presence of intratumoral vascular or lymphatic invasion. Such information can predict the risk of occult lymph node and visceral metastases. Patients with nonseminomas have about a 30% risk of recurrence despite having what appears to be localized disease. Seminomas recur in about 15% of such patients.
Treatment of Testicular Cancer
Radical inguinal orchiectomy
Radiation or chemotherapy for seminomas
Chemotherapy or retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for nonseminomas
Active surveillance
Radical inguinal orchiectomy is the cornerstone of treatment and helps provide important diagnostic information; it also helps formulate the subsequent treatment plan. A cosmetic testicular prosthesis may be placed during orchiectomy. Silicone prostheses are not widely available because of the problems with silicone breast implants. However, saline implants have been developed. For men who wish to retain reproductive capacity, sperm banking is potentially available in anticipation of radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
Radiation therapy
Lymph node dissection
Lymph node dissection is done laparoscopically at some centers. The most common adverse effect of lymph node dissection overall is failure to ejaculate. However, a nerve-sparing dissection is often possible, particularly for early-stage tumors, which usually preserves ejaculation.
Chemotherapy
Nodal masses > 5 cm, lymph node metastases above the diaphragm, visceral metastases, or persistently elevated tumor markers require initial platinum-based combination chemotherapy followed by consolidative surgery for residual masses (if tumor markers normalize with systemic therapy). Such treatment commonly controls the tumor long term. Fertility is often impaired; hence, pretreatment sperm banking should be considered. However, no risk to the fetus has been proved if pregnancy does occur.
Surveillance
Surveillance is strongly preferred for patients with stage 1 seminoma or nonseminomatous germ cell tumors, although many clinicians do not offer this option because it requires rigorous follow-up protocols and excellent patient adherence to be safe. It is more commonly offered to patients at low risk of relapse. High-risk patients usually get adjuvant therapy, either retroperitoneal lymph node dissections or 1 to 2 courses of chemotherapy.
Recurrences
Nonseminoma recurrences are usually treated with chemotherapy, although delayed retroperitoneal lymph node dissection may be appropriate for some patients with nodal relapse, normal tumor markers and no evidence of visceral metastases.
Prognosis for Testicular Cancer
Prognosis depends on histology and extent of the tumor. The 5-year survival rate is > 95% for patients with a seminoma or nonseminoma localized to the testis or with a nonseminoma and low-volume metastases in the retroperitoneum. The 5-year survival rate for patients with extensive retroperitoneal metastases or with pulmonary or other visceral metastases ranges from 48% (for some nonseminomas) to > 80%, depending on site, volume, and histology of the metastases, but even patients with advanced disease at presentation may be cured.
Key Points
Testicular cancer, the most common solid cancer in males aged 15 to 35 and is often curable, particularly seminoma.
Primary treatment is radical inguinal orchiectomy, followed by surveillance, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.
