Epidemiological features of testicular teratoma in a prepubertal population.

PURPOSE

Prepubertal teratomas of the testis are rare benign tumors. Knowledge of the epidemiology of testicular teratomas and associated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels could assist in planning treatment for prepubertal patients suspected of having teratoma of the testis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated data on testicular teratoma from the Prepubertal Testis Tumor Registry of the Section on Urology of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

RESULTS

Median patient age at presentation was 13 months. Teratomas occurred equally in the right and left testes. Most patients presented with a scrotal mass. Preoperative AFP levels were elevated in 20 of the 34 patients and postoperative levels were elevated in 9 of 10. Most patients were treated with radical orchiectomy and no metastatic disease was reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Data in the registry confirm the benign nature of this tumor. Normal AFP levels should not be expected in infants with teratoma.