title: [Bilateral germ tumors of the testis. Report of 5 cases and review of the literature].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To know the prevalence of the bilateral germ cell tumours of testis diagnosed in our Department and to review the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  64 patients diagnosed of a germ cell tumour of the testis were followed during an average period of 51.4 months (1-168 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  5 (7.8%) patients developed a second germ cell testicular tumour. In one patient the tumours were synchronous while in the remaining four were metachronous, occurring in an average interval of 59 months. One patient with a metachronous tumour died as consequence of the second tumour. In two of the five patients risk factors were identified, one presented testicular atrophy and the second referred history of undescended testis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The probability of developing a germinal testis tumour between the patients with history of a previous germ cell tumour of the testis is sensibly greater than between the general population. The prevalence of the bilateral tumours of the testis oscillates between 1-5% and approximately 75% will be metachronous. The principal factor that can predict the appearance of a second testicular tumour is the presence of the carcinoma in situ (Cis) in the contralateral testicular biopsy. Except in cases of testicular atrophy or previous history of undescended testis we do not recommend routine biopsy of the other testis.
authors: Servicio de Urología, Hospital Son Dureta, Palma de Mallorca, Baleares.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Muñoz Vélez
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Mus Malleu
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Rebassa Llull
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Ferrutxe Frau
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Gutiérrez Sanz-Gadea
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Riera Marí
authors: J
authors: J
authors: de Oleza Simó
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ozonas Moragues
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018237:Germinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*