Description
Testicular tumours usually arise from germ cells and most are malignant. They occur mainly in young adult males and their incidence is increasing. It is important to differentiate between seminomas, which are very sensitive to radiotherapy, and teratomas, which respond well to chemotherapeutic agents. Teratomas frequently secrete tumour markers such as alphafetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). Stage I seminomas (confined to the testis) are treated with postoperative radiotherapy. Stage I teratomas may be followed by postoperative surveillance without active treatment unless vascular invasion has been identified in which case the patients receive chemotherapy. Pathology reports should classify germ cell tumours using both the British and WHO terminologies.
