A conservative approach to testicular tumors in children: 12 cases and their management

During a 34-year period 12 children were seen with testicular tumors. Of 8 benign tumors 7 were treated by orchiectomy and 1 by local excision only. The 4 malignant tumors were managed by orchiectomy and 1 boy also received adjunctive chemotherapy. All patients are alive and have had no recurrent tumors after 1 1/2 to 34 years of followup. Because testicular tumors usually are less aggressive in prepubertal children, the chance of cure by orchiectomy alone in this age group is good. However, the potential of these tumors for metastases makes it imperative that they be observed closely.