testicular germ cell tumours

Last reviewed 01/2018

Testicular germ cell cancer is mainly a disease of young men

  • 85% cases are between the age of 15 and 44 years
  • The life time risk of is around 1 in 200 in the UK
  • If diagnosed early, 95% of cases can be cured and treatment can be less intensive (1)

Germ cell tumours are broadly divided into:

  • pure seminomas,
    • account for approximately 40% of tumours

  • non-seminomas
    • account for approximately 60% tumours
    • include multiple cell types e.g. - embryonal cell carcinoma, choriocarcinioma, yolk sac tumour
    • clinically more aggressive (2)

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