title: Epidemiological pattern and time trends in testicular germ-cell tumors: a single institution 20-year experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies have suggested a rise in the incidence of testicular germ-cell tumors (TGTs) in the last years, mainly due to an increase of early stage cases. We analysed the time trends in biological features of these patients in order to confirm this tendency in our environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical records of 136 consecutive patients with TGTs treated at a single institution over a 20-year period (1984-2003) were retrospectively reviewed. Pathological, clinical, therapeutic and outcome data were collected. Patients were allocated into four consecutive 5- year intervals and their characteristics were compared by means of the chi-squared test. The survival analysis was performed with the method of Kaplan and Meier.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A progressive increase in the incidence of new cases, and a more frequent diagnosis of stage I versus stage II-IV disease was confirmed within this time period. It was also observed a greater use of postorchiectomy chemotherapy, mainly due to an increase in the adjuvant indications. A significant decrease in the recurrence rate was noted. Ten-year overall survival was 86.5%. There was a trend for improved outcome, but the differences among the two decades were not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A real increase in the incidence of TGTs and in the proportion of early stages was confirmed. This may be due to an epidemiological change or to an earlier diagnosis. This new pattern is associated with a more frequent use of adjuvant chemotherapy and with a reduction in the relapse rate.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Oncología Médica, Hospital Universitario La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Molina Saera
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aparicio Urtasun
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Díaz Beveridge
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palomar Abad
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giménez Ortiz
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ponce Lorenzo
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Montalar Salcedo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy