Evaluation of the decision-making process in the conservative approach to small testicular masses.
BACKGROUND
We evaluate the clinical outcome of patients treated with conservative approach for small testicular masses (STMs). We analyzed the steps who brought to the selection of the therapeutic approach: starting from clinical presentation, through imaging and lab studies.


METHODS
We considered 18 patients who underwent an organ-sparing approach for STMs from 2005 until 2014. The selection criteria were dimension of the mass and absence of clinical, laboratory and/or radiological malignancy suspicion. Preoperative scrotal ultrasound (US) was carried out in all the patients by the same radiologist. The postoperative fertility profile was evaluated in patients younger than 40 years.


RESULTS
We performed 13 enucleations, one partial orchiectomy (PO) and four active surveillances. During surgery, a frozen section examination (FSE) was always requested and no discrepancies were noted between its results and the definitive histology. Only one seminomatous tumor was identified, while the remaining masses were four necrosis, four epidermoid cysts, three Leydig tumors, one Sertoli tumor and one chronic orchitis. After a mean follow-up of 41.6 ± 24.7 months, all the patients resulted free of disease and hypogonadism and five of them reached the fatherhood after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical and instrumental evaluation consented an accurate selection of patients eligible for the organ-preserving approach. We believe that testis-sparing surgery leads good functional and aesthetic results in patients with benign lesions; it is a safe option for STMs with a reliable pathologist performing FSE and is an important goal in young patients with fatherhood desire.
Department of Urology, ASST Rohdense, G. Salvini Hospital, Garbagnate Milanese, Milan - Italy.
Andrea
A
Benelli
Department of Urology, ASST Rohdense, G. Salvini Hospital, Garbagnate Milanese, Milan - Italy.
Virginia
V
Varca
Department of Radiology, San Martino Hospital, University of Genova, Genova - Italy.
Lorenzo
L
Derchi
Department of Urology, ASST Rohdense, G. Salvini Hospital, Garbagnate Milanese, Milan - Italy.
Andrea
A
Gregori
Department of Urology "L. Giuliani", San Martino Hospital, University of Genova, Genova - Italy.
Giorgio
G
Carmignani
Department of Urology "L. Giuliani", San Martino Hospital, University of Genova, Genova - Italy.
Alchiede
A
Simonato
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000066491:Clinical Decision-Making; D000072700:Conservative Treatment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D059351:Organ Sparing Treatments; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult