Testicular Cancer: Seminoma & Non-seminoma Germ Cell Tumors

Your Path

  • Testicular Cancer: seminoma & non-seminoma germ cell tumors

Etiology

  • Seminoma
  • Rarely lymphoma
  • Non-seminoma: embryonal, yolk sac, choriocarcinoma, teratoma
  • Can be mixed seminoma and non-seminoma
  • 5% of germ cell tumors are extra-gonadal, occurring primarily outside of testis (see link below to germ cell tumors), in particular within mediastinum

Risk Factors

  • Fam hx
  • Undescended testicle
  • Typical age 15-30
  • 2nd peak >60 for seminomas

Symptoms

  • Firm, usually painless nodule or mass
  • Typically unilateral
  • If metastatic disease, can have symptoms based on site of spread: back pain, sob, chest pain, gynecomastia (from elevated bHCG), headache/other neurologic, etc

Physical Exam Findings

  • Focal
  • Firm nodules/enlargement
  • Usually non-tender

Tests

Links