Testicular Cancer - Medtick
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Testicular Cancer

What is it?

Cancer of the testicles where sperm and male hormones are produced.

  • Uncommon
  • It tends to affect men from 20 years- 35 years old, where one does not expect to become ill.
  • Testicular germ cell tumours is the most common type (95%):
    • Germ cells are the cells that develop into the embryo and later on become the cells that make up the reproductive system of men and women).
  •  Most germ cell tumours occur in the testes or ovaries (gonads) or the lower back. When these tumours occur outside of the gonads, they are known as extragonadal tumours.
  • Testicular germ cell tumors are generally split into two main subtypes:
    • Seminomas
    • Nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCTs). NSGCTs are sometimes referred to as nonseminomas.
    • Each type accounts for about 50% of testicular germ cell tumours.
    • There are several different types of nonseminomas including choriocarcinoma, yolk sac tumour, embryonal carcinoma, and teratoma.
  • The 5% of people who develop a non-germ cell tumour may develop lymphoma affecting the testicles or a sex cord-stromal tumour, which is a tumour that arises from the supportive tissues of the testicles.

NORD

Measurement of AFP, beta-HCG, and LDH in patients in whom testicular cancer are suspected is mandatory before treatment, as is monitoring of these levels during and after treatment.

Serum AFP features are as follows:

  • Secretion is restricted to nonseminoma.
  • Reference adult concentration is < 10 ng/mL.
  • Serum half-life is 4-5 days.
  • Concentrations > 10,000 ng/mL are seen exclusively in germ cell tumor and hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • Levels may be elevated in patients with hepatic dysfunction, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and drug or alcohol abuse.

Beta-hCG features are as follows:

  • Increased levels of beta-hCG can be found in either seminoma or nonseminoma.
  • Serum half-life is 18-36 hours.
  • Patients with high levels of beta-hCG may experience nipple tenderness or gynecomastia.
  • Serum beta-hCG concentrations above 10,000 mIU/mL are seen exclusively in germ cell tumors.
  • Elevated levels may also be seen in patients with trophoblastic differentiation of a lung or gastric primary cancer or with hypogonadism.
  • False-positive elevations may result from marijuana use.

LDH features are as follows:

  • LDH has independent prognostic significance; increased levels reflect tumor burden, growth rate, and cellular proliferation.
  • LDH is not a sensitive or specific indicator of disease recurrence and therefore is not a useful serum marker for posttreatment surveillance.

Medscape

Cause

  • Unknown
  • Maybe:
    • Family history
    • Common in white men than black or asian men (black men tend to have a high grade)
    • Tall height
    • One is at risk of cancer
    • Testicular microlithiasis – (calcium deposits in the testicles)
    • Unable to have children (infertile) from born
    • Born without one or more testicles in scrotum (it then moves into scrotum during first four months)
  • Mesothelioma
  • Cryptorchidism (Undescended testicle)- a condition where in normal male development, the testicles will typically descend down the inguinal canal into the scrotum by the time you are born. If they fail to do so by the fourth month, the condition will be diagnosed as cryptorchidism.
  • Smoking

Syndromes

Illicit drugs

Symptoms

  • Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than two days (one day if a child)?
  • Pain in pelvis area and/or lower back and/or intense pain in the back or side (or moving pain from back to side) or in groin area?
  • Heavy aching pain in scrotum and groin?
  • Lump or swelling (can be pain-free) in one or both testicles?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Unexplained weight loss?
  • Any unknown lumps or swellings on any part of body?
  • Painless swelling or a nodule in one testicle?
  • Mass or nodule cannot be separated from the testis?
  • Patients with atrophic testes (testes are becoming smaller and weaker/wasted) will feel enlargement?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

This condition can lead to:

This condition can spread leading to:

H.I.V Test

  • A H.I.V test should be offered if one has this condition.

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Testicular Cancer in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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