Evaluation of human chorionic gonadotropin and alpha fetoprotein in benign and malignant testicular disorders.

The marker proteins alpha fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin are useful adjuncts to clinical evaluation of patients with non-seminomatous testicular germ cell malignant growths during and after therapeutic interventions. Measuring both markers is better than measuring either one alone. An elevated marker assay indicates the presence of active disease. A normal marker assay does not exclude active disease being present. Lastly, these markers are of limited usefulness in the evaluation of undiagnosed testicular masses.