[Comparison of prognosis between inguinal cryptorchic seminoma and scrotal seminoma]

To analyse the prognosis of patients with inguinal cryptorchic seminoma.

From 1985 through 1991, 43 patients with inguinal seminoma of undescended testis were treated and the therapeutic effect retrospectively reviewed. There were 33 patients in stage I, 8 in stage II, 1 in stage III, and 1 in stage IV. All patients had inguinal orchiectomy. Patients in stage I and II were primarily treated with radiotherapy, whereas one patient in stage III and another in stage IV were treated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

The 5- and 10-year overall survival was 93.0% and 90.3%, respectively. The corresponding disease-free survival was 88.1% and 85.3%, respectively. The overall 5- and 10-year survival by stage was 100% and 100% for stage I, 75.0% and 60.0% for stage II, respectively. Two patients relapsed and were successfully treated with radiotherapy.

Prognosis for inguinal cryptorchic seminoma is as good as that of scrotal testicular seminoma. Postorchiectomy radiotherapy encompassing para-aortic and ipsilateral iliac nodes is effective for stage I and early stage II inguinal crytorchic seminoma. The inguinal nodes should be included in the treatment ports only when they are involved or if there is obvious involvement of surrounding tissues by the primary tumor.