title: The value of repeated chest radiographs in the follow-up of patients with germ cell testicular tumours.
abstract: Patients with germ cell testicular tumours customarily have repeated follow-up chest radiographs after treatment. This study assesses the contribution of chest radiography to the detection of recurrent disease in 162 patients. Six patients developed an intrathoracic recurrence, but in only one case was the chest radiography the only indication of recurrence. Five had other evidence to suggest recurrence, such as raised serum markers or palpable masses. The yield from follow-up chest radiographs in patients with germ cell testicular tumours is very low and their use must be balanced against both the harmful effects of radiation and the financial cost.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, General Hospital, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McMillan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sokal
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wastie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004407:Dysgerminoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013724:Teratoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary