Epidemiological features of testicular teratoma in a prepubertal population

Abstract

Purpose: Prepubertal teratomas of the testis are rare benign tumors. Knowledge of the epidemiology of testicular teratomas and associated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels could assist in planning treatment for prepubertal patients suspected of having teratoma of the testis.

Materials and methods: We evaluated data on testicular teratoma from the Prepubertal Testis Tumor Registry of the Section on Urology of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Results: Median patient age at presentation was 13 months. Teratomas occurred equally in the right and left testes. Most patients presented with a scrotal mass. Preoperative AFP levels were elevated in 20 of the 34 patients and postoperative levels were elevated in 9 of 10. Most patients were treated with radical orchiectomy and no metastatic disease was reported.

Conclusions: Data in the registry confirm the benign nature of this tumor. Normal AFP levels should not be expected in infants with teratoma.