Testicular cancer

Alternative names:

cancer of the testes; testicular neoplasm

Definition:

Abnormal, rapid, and invasive growth of cells in the testicles.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Although the exact cause has not been identified, several predisposing factors may place some men at higher risk. These include a past medical history of undescended testicle, mumps orchitis, inguinal hernia during childhood, or previous testicular cancer on the other side. Frequently, testicular tumors are noted after an episode of trauma however, trauma is not believed to be a causative or predisposing factor.

Testicular cancer has an incidence of 2.8 out of 100,000 men. It is the most common form of cancer in men 20 to 35 years old. It may also occur in young boys, but only about 3% of all testicular cancer is found in this group. The tumors are more commonly found within the right testicle than the left testicle.

Testicular cancers may be classified as follows:

• seminomas (about 40% of all testicular cancers)
• spermatocystic embryonal carcinomas (about 20% of testicular cancers)
• yolk sac tumor (about 60% of all testicular cancers in young boys)
• teratomas (about 7% of testicular cancers in adult men and 40% in young boys)
• choriocarcinoma (rare)

Testicular cancers can also develop in specialized cells within the gonads such as the Leydig cells (cells that produce testosterone) and Sertoli cells (cells that provide nurishment for the sperm).
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