Bilateral testicular germ cell tumours: a single hospital experience.
The incidence of testicular germ cell tumours (TGCT) is increasing and the improvement in survival may lead to an increased incidence of bilateral tumours. We examined the incidence, prognosis, clinical and histological characteristics, treatment and outcome of patients with bilateral TGCTs based on 15 years of experience from a single institution. We reviewed the charts from all patients treated for a testicular tumour germ cell at Hospital Vall d'Hebron in Barcelona, Spain. The information was retrospectively obtained from the patients' hospital. All the patients were evaluated with clinical history, physical exam, serum markers (alphaFP, LDH and betahCG), ultrasonographic evaluation of the testicles, computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest, abdomen and pelvis, surgery, location and histology of first and second tumour, treatment after the surgery and follow-up. Of 151 patients with TGCT, 8 (5.3%) developed bilateral tumours, seven (4.6%) were metachronous and one (0.7%) synchronous tumours. Two patients underwent testis-sparing surgery for the second tumour. All the patients are alive without evidence of disease based on physical exam, tumour markers and CT scan. Survival in patients with bilateral testicular germ cell tumours (BTGCT) is similar to that of patients with unilateral TGCT. There is no standard therapy to treat BTGCT and each patient requires a tailored therapeutic treatment.