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Treatment-Related Testicular Changes

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Clues in the Diagnosis of Non-tumoral Testicular Pathology

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Abstract

The improvements achieved in diagnosis and modern modalities of management in oncology over the past 20 years have led to relatively high rates of remission and long-term survival. The consistently increasing survival rates have led to a greater focus of cancer treatment on addressing the side effects and toxicities of treatments on future fertility. Infertility is an area of particular concern to young cancer survivors. The testis has been shown to be highly susceptible to the toxic effects of cancer therapy at all stages of life. Gonadal damage in men treated for cancer can result from surgery, radiation therapy involving the spinal or pelvic area, or systemic chemotherapy. To a different extent, depending on the modality of treatment and dosage, this damage may involve both the germ cells and the somatic cells of the testis, Sertoli and Leydig cells. The prevention of sterility in survivors of cancer in childhood and youth is a major reproductive challenge for the coming decades. This chapter exposes the testicular lesions caused by oncological treatments (surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy). Additionally, testicular damages caused by treatments with estrogens and antiandrogens, particularly in gender dysphoria patients changing from male to female, are also included.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Madrid, Spain

    Manuel Nistal

  2. School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), University Hospital La Paz, Department of Pathology, Madrid, Spain

    Pilar González-Peramato

  3. University Hospital Clinico San Carlos, Department of Urology, Madrid, Spain

    Álvaro Serrano

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  1. Manuel Nistal
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Nistal, M., González-Peramato, P., Serrano, Á. (2017). Treatment-Related Testicular Changes. In: Clues in the Diagnosis of Non-tumoral Testicular Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49364-0_40

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