Clinical stage I seminoma

Abstract

Stage I seminoma is highly curable. There are different treatment options for this disease: radiotherapy, surveillance and chemotherapy. In recent years, adjuvant chemotherapy in particular has been extensively evaluated. This paper offers suggestions about the advantages and disadvantages of the different strategies, which will be discussed considering prognostic factors; future perspectives will also be evaluated. Through a review of the literature and their clinical experience, the authors outline the importance of prognostic factors in the management of patients suffering from seminomas. Although no treatment modalities have demonstrated survival advantages over others, acute and late side effects, acceptability and quality of life are the main elements of comparison between them. Our findings support the hypothesis that the final decision about the treatment of these tumors depends essentially on three different aspects: risk factors, the patient's own preferences, and single-center expertise. These aspects should play a fundamental role in the final decision-making.