Ophthalmological changes of the posterior segment in patients with testicular cancer in a mixed-race population of the General Hospital of Mexico.

INTRODUCTION

The curing of a testicular tumour is currently feasible in more than 95% of patients, and in 80% of those with metastases. Until now, there has been no study or series of cases that describe the ocular changes of the posterior segment associated with testicular cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate patients with a diagnosis of testicular cancer in order to determine the presence of changes in the posterior segment and the relationship to the stage.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

An observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study was conducted on 21 male patients (42 eyes) with a diagnosis of testicular cancer. Age, histological type, time of evolution, stage, treatment, and comorbidities were recorded, as well as visual acuity measurement (LogMAR), biomicroscopy of the anterior segment, and photographic records of the posterior pole and peripheral retina.

RESULTS

The mean age was 29 years (18-43 years). All (100%) of the patients were treated surgically. The most frequent histological type was classic seminoma (42.8%), followed by the mixed germinal tumour (38.0%). At the time of evaluation, 42.8% of patients had a stage II, and 23.8% had distant metastasis. The changes in the posterior segment were: vascular tortuosity (14.2%), retinopathy associated with cancer (9.5%), choroidal metastasis (9.5%), pigmentary changes of the retinal pigment epithelium (9.5%), and retinal metastasis (4.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

It is possible to find changes at the level of retinal pigment epithelium, as well as vascular tortuosity, retinopathy associated with cancer, and choroidal and/or retina metastases.