Testicular Cancer - Patient Surveillance

  • Seminoma. Patients with recurrent disease after radiotherapy may be salvaged by platinum-based chemotherapy so careful patient follow-up is essential. These patients should be followed with a monthly H&P, chest x-ray, and serum tumor markers for 1 year, then every other month for 1 year, and then annually for several years.
  • Nonseminomatous germ cell tumors. These patients should be monitored with a monthly H&P, chest x-ray, and serum tumor markers for 1 year, then every other month for 1 year, and every 3 to 6 months thereafter. In addition, they should undergo a CT scan of the retroperitoneum every 2 to 3 months for the first 2 years, then every 6 months thereafter for a minimum of 5 years and up to 10 years post-orchiectomy.

References

  • Baniel J, Foster RS, Rowland RG, Bihrle R, Donahue JP: Testis cancer: Complications of post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. J Urol 153:976-980, 1995.
  • Donohue JP, Thornhill JA, Foster RS, Bihrle R, Rowland RG, Einhorn LH: The role of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in clinical stage B testis cancer: The Indiana University experience (1965 to 1989). J Urol 153:85-89, 1995.
  • Einhorn LH: Salvage therapy for germ cell tumors. Semin Oncol 21:47-51, 1994.
  • Einhorn LH, Donohue JP: Advanced testicular cancer: Update for urologists. J Urol 160:1964-1969. 1998.
  • Moller H, Skakkeback NE: Testicular cancer and cryptorchidism in relation to prenatal factors: Case control studies in Denmark. Cancer Causes Control 8:904-12, 1997.
  • Nichols C, Loehrer P Sr: The story of second cancers in patients cured of testicular cancer: Tarnishing success of burnishing irrelevance. J Natl Cancer Inst 89:1304-1305, 1997.
  • Wegner HEH, Hubotter A, Andresen R, Miller K: Testicular microlithiasis and concomitant testicular intraepithelial neoplasia. Int Urol Nephrol 30:313-315, 1998.