Synonyms
Medical: testicular carcinoma
Definition
Testicular cancer is the most common malignant tumor disease in young men between 20 and 40 years of age. Compared to other cancers, however, it is rather rare with a share of 2%. In 95% of cases testicular cancer develops in only one of the two testicles and can later spread to the vas deferens and epididymis.
Symptomatically, testicular cancer is in most cases caused by
- Painless increase in size of the testicle, as well as through
- Hardening of the tissue.
Despite its frequency, the prognosis of testicular cancer is very good in most cases, as 95% of testicular cancer can be completely cured. The testicles are composed of different types of cells. Therefore different cell types can degenerate, which is why testicular cancer is divided into several subgroups.
Since 90% of testicular tumors originate from the germ cells, which normally develop into sperm cells, the germ cell tumors form the largest subgroup. Within this subgroup, the so-called seminomas are distinguished from the non-seminomas, which occur with approximately the same frequency. Non-seminomas can be tumors of various tissue types, such as The remaining 10% of testicular tumors are the rare Leydig and Sertoli cell carcinomas, which originate from the testicular testosterone-producing cells of the same name, as well as metastases (daughter tumors) of other organs.
For the treatment as well as for the prognosis of testicular cancer it is very important to know the cellular origin of the tumor. This is done by a histological (fine tissue) examination after surgical removal of the affected testicle. After the obligatory surgery and a subsequent adequate follow-up treatment, such as radiation or chemotherapy, patients have very good chances of recovery. The loss of one of the two testicles normally has no influence on the potency or fertility of the patient.
- Yolk sac tumors
- Chorionic carcinomas
- Embryonic cell carcinomas
- As well as teratomas.
