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. 2004 Jan 12;90(1):55-9.
doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6601464.

Bilateral germ-cell tumours: 22-year experience at the Institut Gustave Roussy

Ch Theodore  1 , M J Terrier-Lacombe, A Laplanche, G Benoit, K Fizazi, O Stamerra, P Wibault
Affiliations

Bilateral germ-cell tumours: 22-year experience at the Institut Gustave Roussy

Ch Theodore et al. Br J Cancer. .

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the incidence, clinical and histological characteristics, treatment and long-term follow-up of bilateral germ-cell tumours (BGCT) of the testis in order to determine in what respects they differ significantly from unilateral germ-cell tumours. In all, 31 patients with BGCT had metachronous tumours and 14 had synchronous tumours. Among the metachronous tumours, 61% occurred more than 5 years after the first tumour. The overall incidence of BGCT in patients with testicular germ-cell tumours (TGCT) was 1.9%. The incidence was 3.2% in patients presenting with a seminoma and 1.4 % in patients presenting with a nonseminomatous germ-cell tumour (NSGCT). Patients under 30 years of age at the time of the initial diagnosis had a higher incidence of bilateral tumours compared with older men. The outcome of BGCT was excellent. A high association was found between BGCT, sterility and suspected genetic risk factors for TGCT. These results argue against a systematic contralateral biopsy at diagnosis of first TGCT in all patients, but emphasise the importance of patient education and of the need to better identify patients at risk for a second TGCT. Therapeutic indications for synchronous BGCT, including conservative treatment, need to be better defined.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Time intervals between first and second tumours in the 31 patients with metachronous bilateral testicular germ-cell tumours.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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