Cancer of the Testis

Abstract

Testicular tumors may arise from germinal cells, from cells of the gonadal stroma, or from nongonadal cells. The latter group is referred to as secondary testicular tumors; they usually represent the initial clinical manifestation of a lymphoma or leukemia. The following discussion will be limited to tumors of germinal cell origin, to which group 92% of all testicular tumors belong. These tumors deserve particular attention because the great majority of patients can be cured if adequately treated; because they are associated with true tumor markers that are invaluable in the diagnosis, treatment planning, and follow-up of the disease; and because they are a model for a very successful evolution of therapeutic strategies leading to improvements both of prognosis and quality of life.