A patient with bilateral testicular cancer
Dijkstra, S.S.; Witjes, J.A.F.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 156(11): A3392
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 1876-8784 PMID: 22414668 Document Number: 661434
In men aged 15-34 testicular cancer is the most commonly occurring malignancy. After treatment, the average 5-year survival rate is 85%. Recurring symptoms or raised tumour markers may indicate the presence of a second primary contralateral testicular tumour. A 34-year-old man presented with pain in his left testicle. Eight years previously he had been diagnosed with cancer of his right testicle which was treated successfully by orchidectomy and two cycles of chemotherapy. Further investigations revealed raised tumour markers. The patient proved to have a contralateral testis carcinoma with 2 lung metastases. 1-3% of patients with testicular cancer develop metachronous (i.e. not concurrent) contralateral testicular cancer. Follow-up and self-examination are very important for early diagnosis of a metachronous contralateral malignancy.