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Seminoma testis with elevated serum Beta-HCG—a category of germ-cell cancer between seminoma and nonseminoma

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Abstract

Serum beta-HCG was elevated in 10 of 83 consecutive patients with histologically pure seminoma (12%). Six patients with diagnostic stage I were successfully treated by radiation therapy. One patient with stage IIc suffered a mediastinal relapse following retroperitoneal radiotherapy. Two other patients iwth high tumour burden achieved complete remission after induction chemotherapy followed by surgery and radiotherapy, respectively. One patient with retroperitoneal bulky disease reached permanent complete remission after radiation therapy alone.

Beta-HCG-positive seminomas constitute a distinct category of germ-cell tumours on the basis of morphological and clinical features. Corresponding to the intermediate histological position between seminoma and nonseminoma, safe treatment of beta-HCG-positive seminoma can be achieved by radiotherapy in stage I, by retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy plus adjuvant chemotherapy in stages IIa, b and by induction chemotherapy in stages IIc and III.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Steglitz Medical Center, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    K. -P. Dieckmann & H. W. Bauer

  2. Department of Pathology, Steglitz Medical Center, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    W. Düe

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  1. K. -P. Dieckmann
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Dieckmann, K.P., Düe, W. & Bauer, H.W. Seminoma testis with elevated serum Beta-HCG—a category of germ-cell cancer between seminoma and nonseminoma. International Urology and Nephrology 21, 175–184 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02550806

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