Prepubertal testicular tumours and efficacy of testicular preserving surgery.

STUDY TYPE: Therapy (case series).

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4. What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Testicular tumours in childhood are very rare. Historically, most of these tumours have been considered malignant, but more recent studies indicate that benign lesions, particularly teratoma, are much more frequent than previously thought. Testicular tumours in this age group have traditionally been treated with inguinal radical orchiectomy, but more conservative management has been proposed in view of the higher frequency of benign tumours. In children, most testicular tumours are benign, especially before puberty. A testis-sparing procedure should be performed in children with a palpable testicular mass and negative tumour markers.

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience of testicular tumours in children aged≤13 years, including our experience with testis-sparing surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed of 15 patients with testicular tumours aged≤13 years who presented at our centre between 1984 and 2008. The use of testis-preserving surgery according to indication was investigated and outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS: The clinical presentation was increased testicular size with a palpable mass in 80% of the cases. All 15 patients underwent surgery. The tumour was benign in 12 (80%) patients and malignant in three (20%) patients. Organ-preserving surgery was planned and achieved in 11 patients (73%). Pathology of the tumourectomy specimens disclosed benign tumours in all cases: four epidermoid cysts, two teratomas, one juvenile granulosa cell tumour, one haemangioma, one lipoma, one fibrous hamartoma and one splenogonadal fusion. In four patients who underwent radical orchiectomy, pathology identified one yolk sac tumour (stage I), two mixed germ cell tumours and one gonadoblastoma.

CONCLUSIONS: In children, most testicular tumours are benign, especially before puberty. A testis-sparing procedure should be performed in children with a palpable testicular mass and negative tumour markers. The lesion, however, should be thoroughly excised to avoid recurrences.