Bilateral primary germ cell testicular tumors: report of four cases and review of the literature.
Bilateral primary germ cell tumors of the testicle are rare. The last comprehensive review of the literature (1955) revealed a 1.6% incidence. However, during the past twenty years, cases have been reported more often, raising the questions of increased frequency due to prolonged survival following surgery and/or roentgen therapy for unilateral tumors. A search of the medical journals during the past two decades fails to show any increased frequency of bilaterality (1.56%). All general combinations of cell types may occur and the tumors may appear simultaneously or sequentially. Successive seminomas are seen more often followed in frequency by concurrent seminomas. Although 50% of the second primaries were diagnosed within five years, 3% of the patients developed the second tumor after 20 years, stressing the need for extended follow-up. Factors affecting the diagnosis, management and prognosis of bilateral testicular tumors are discussed. Four additional cases of bilateral germ cell tumors are described.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D004407:Dysgerminoma / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000473:pathology; D013724:Teratoma / Q000473:pathology*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors