Testicular tumours in infancy and childhood--a review of 10 germ cell tumours and 10 non germ cell tumours.

Between 1961 and 1989 twenty testicular tumours were treated at the Basel University Children's Hospital. Ten were non germ cell tumours (50%) and a further 10 (50%) were germ cell tumours. Of the germ cell tumours six were benign teratomas, two yolk sac tumours and a further two were teratocarcinomas. In the non germ cell group eight tumours originated from paratesticular structures, one of which was a malignant rhabdomyosarcoma. The remaining two neoplasms originated from the supporting testicular tissues. The clinical presentation, the protocol of treatment and the long-term outcome are discussed. We advocate local tumour excision in benign cases (proven by instant frozen section) if normal testicular tissue can be preserved. In malignant germ cell tumours primary orchiectomy and high spermatic cord ligation is the treatment of choice. Secondary chemotherapy and/or retroperitoneal lymph node dissection is only added if the tumour markers alpha-fetoprotein and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin remain present in high serum levels postoperatively. Rhabdomyosarcomas are treated by surgical excision, primary chemotherapy and radiotherapy. All of the five patients (25%) suffering from malignant testicular tumours survived. A long-term follow-up (mean 12 years) did not show any evidence of recurrent local or metastatic disease.