Testicular tumour markers in spermatic vein blood

The markers for testicular cancer, alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotrophin, were measured in spermatic vein and peripheral blood taken at the time of orchiectomy. In all cases where markers were produced by the tumour, concentrations were found to be higher in spermatic vein than in peripheral blood, presumably because the former drains from the site of the tumour and dilution in the circulation has not yet occurred. Such measurements could be of particular value in patients whose tumours produce such small amounts of marker(s) that they are below the level of detection in peripheral blood.