[Metastatic pure seminomas of the testicle: role of chemotherapy]

Abstract

40% of testicular tumours are seminomatous tumours. The low mass tumours (LMT) (stages IIA and IIB of the Royal Mardsen Hospital classification) are usually treated by radiotherapy and the high mass tumours (HMT) (stage IIC, III and IV) by chemotherapy. Chemotherapy regimens are platinum-based polychemotherapy. We report 9 cases of seminomatous testicular tumours (4 LMT and 5 HMT) treated by chemotherapy (BEP modified or CBDCA-etoposide regimens), three courses, with one supplement course if necessary and surgery if residual masses are more than 3 cm long. The rate of complete remission are 100% for LMT and 60% for HMT. This could be an indication to treat in addition with orchidectomy the LMT with chemotherapy and not with radiotherapy (standard-gold) which is more toxic.