Atypical germ cells in testicular biopsy in male sterility

Of 2178 patients who underwent testicular biopsy for the investigation of male sterility between 1950 and 1979 at Zürich University, 10 cases with atypical germ cells (AGC) could be demonstrated (corresponding to 0.46%). Based on the clinical course, the cases are subdivided in three groups: 1) subsequent development of a testicular germ cell tumour within the period of a few months (2 patients), 2) development of germ cell tumour following a tumour-free interval of several years (2 patients) and 3) no tumour development up to the present (6 patients). The presence of AGC, therefore, is of quite varied significance. The possibilities whether they represent a precancerous lesion, a reactive alteration, intratubular spread of frank tumour cells, or stem cells of all kinds of testicular neoplasms, are discussed.