Testicular Seminoma

Abstract

PRIMARY malignant tumors of the testes are relatively rare, contributing only 1% to 2% of all reported neoplasms in males. Morphologically, malignant testicular tumors are most simply divided according to origin into three categories, germinal, nongerminal, and metastatic. Seminoma, the most common germinal tumor, carries the least lethal prognosis. Recent reports of seminoma patients treated with radiotherapy indicate five-year survival figures of 80%,¹ while even with metastasis treated with radiation, 38% five-year survival has been obtained.² The variance of clinical behavior and prognosis of seminoma as compared to the other male germinal tumors prompted the review of 179 patients with seminoma admitted for evaluation and treatment at Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, during the past 50 years. Since prolonged and detailed followup data were available, this review was undertaken in hopes of elucidating the natural history of the disease and studying its modification by a variety of therapeutic