Bilateral germ-cell tumours: 22-year experience at the Institut Gustave Roussy

The aim of this study was to describe the incidence, clinical and histological characteristics, treatment and long-term follow-up of bilateral germ-cell tumours (BGCT) of the testis in order to determine in what respects they differ significantly from unilateral germ-cell tumours. In all, 31 patients with BGCT had metachronous tumours and 14 had synchronous tumours. Among the metachronous tumours, 61% occurred more than 5 years after the first tumour. The overall incidence of BGCT in patients with testicular germ-cell tumours (TGCT) was 1.9%. The incidence was 3.2% in patients presenting with a seminoma and 1.4 % in patients presenting with a nonseminomatous germ-cell tumour (NSGCT). Patients under 30 years of age at the time of the initial diagnosis had a higher incidence of bilateral tumours compared with older men. The outcome of BGCT was excellent. A high association was found between BGCT, sterility and suspected genetic risk factors for TGCT. These results argue against a systematic contralateral biopsy at diagnosis of first TGCT in all patients, but emphasise the importance of patient education and of the need to better identify patients at risk for a second TGCT. Therapeutic indications for synchronous BGCT, including conservative treatment, need to be better defined.