Low sperm counts as a prognostic factor of progression in stage I non-seminomatous germ cell testicular tumours.

The prognostic factors of disease progression were studied in a prospective study in patients with Stage I non-seminomatous testicular tumours. Patients received no treatment after orchiectomy until progression of disease was confirmed. The results showed a good correlation between sperm counts in semen collected around the time of orchiectomy and progression of disease. While progression of disease occurred in 9 of the 20 patients with sperm counts lower than 10 X 10(6)/ml, it was not found in any of the patients with a sperm count exceeding 10 X 10(6)/ml.