Abstract
Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy in men aged 15–35 years. Histologically testicular germ-cell tumors have two main subtypes: pure seminoma and non-seminoma. Knowing the histopathological tumor type and detecting the relevant prognostic factors helps to guide the subsequent therapeutic course.
At present there are no recommendations for testicular cancer screening in healthy young men, even among men showing high risk; however, a testicular cancer should be diagnosed as soon as a young man presents with suggestive signs and symptoms. Furthermore, thanks to highly effective treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, it is very important to effectively manage secondary prevention and improve these patients’ quality of life. Secondary prevention of relapses or secondary malignancy onsets should be carried out through a regular follow-up of the patient; in selected cases of positive family history, it is possible to perform genome-wide analyses aiming at searching the genes possibly causing testicular germ-cell tumor in affected first-degree male relatives. Long-term therapies can yield infertility and sexual dysfunction, issues gaining more and more importance from a clinical point of view.
Sperm cryopreservation should be systematically offered to all requiring patients; moreover, screening for gonadal dysfunction should be considered in the follow-up of testicular cancer survivors, with the aim of hormone supplementation in symptomatic patients. (Urologia 2007; 74: 8–14)
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