Guidelines on testicular cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To up-date the 2001 version of the EAU testicular cancer guidelines.


METHODS
A non-structured literature review until January 2005 using the MEDLINE database has been performed. Literature has been classified according to evidence-based medicine levels.


RESULTS
Testicular cancer is a highly curable disease. Excellent cure rates have been achieved by standardization of treatment, interdisciplinary management, and tremendous success in performing clinical trials. Currently, the aims of testicular cancer treatment are as follows: for patients with low-stage disease, a reduction in treatment is proposed to improve long-term toxicity in these patients with unaltered life expectancy; for about 10% of patients with advanced disease and poor prognosis, intensification of treatment (including high-dose chemotherapy and new drugs as well as aggressive surgical approaches) is being investigated to improve long-term cure rates.


CONCLUSIONS
Guidelines will improve clinical practice only if they are regularly updated. This update presents the state-of-the-art management of testicular cancer patients in 2005.
Albers
Peter
P
Department of Urology, Klinikum Kassel GmbH Mönchebergstr. 41-43, Kassel, Germany. albers@klinikum-kassel.de
Albrecht
Walter
W
Algaba
Ferran
F
Bokemeyer
Carsten
C
Cohn-Cedermark
Gabriella
G
Horwich
Alan
A
Klepp
Olbjoern
O
Laguna
M Pilar
MP
Pizzocaro
Giorgio
G
D000328:Adult; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000592:standards; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000592:standards; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / Q000592:standards