title: Germ cell tumours of testis: prognostic factors and results.
abstract: Prognostic features regarding the outcome of 232 patients with testicular germ cell tumours treated from 1980 to 1987 in Sheffield are reviewed. Delay in diagnosis was a constant feature. The majority had a swelling for over 3 months. After 6 months mortality doubled, compared with patients with a shorter history. Initial serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein and beta-human chorionic gondadotropin, particularly if both were elevated over 100, and more so 500 IU/l, indicated a subsequent mortality in non-seminomatous tumours of 24 and 37%, respectively, while only 1.5% died if both values were below 100. The overall survival rate was 97% in seminomas and 78% in non-seminomas; no patients with well or moderately differentiated tumours died. There were no deaths after the 3rd year. Surveillance treatment in stage-I tumours was safe and mortality-free.
authors.affiliation: Weston Park Hospitals, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nikzas
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Champion
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fox
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins