title: Testicular tumors: presentation and role of diagnostic delay.
abstract: 180 patients with testicular germ cell tumors were evaluated in a retrospective study concerning the features of presentation and diagnostic delay. Mean duration of symptoms was 170 days, being different for seminoma and nonseminoma, and showing a continuous decrease since 1969. Duration of symptoms was longest in stage I seminoma. In the nonseminoma group the longest interval was observed in stage III. It is concluded that only in nonseminoma a prolonged delay exerts adverse effects on prognosis. Short delay (cryosperm conservation) does not seem to cause any harm. A plea is made for periodic testicular self-examination.
authors.affiliation: Freie Universität Berlin, Urologische Klinik und Poliklinik im Universitätsklinimum Steglitz.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Dieckmann
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Bauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004407:Dysgerminoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology