[Testicular neoplasms with massive tumor invasion. Consequences for diagnosis and therapy]

Cis-(diammine-dichloro-) platinum containing polychemotherapy combined with surgery has markedly improved the prognosis of cancer of the testis even in the metastatic stage. Important is a quickly obtained diagnosis. The histological staging can be rendered more precise by means of immunoperoxidase technique, the clinical staging with the help of tumor markers (alpha FP, beta hCG). Polychemotherapy is indicated in the case of seminoma in stage IV or with elevated beta hCG, teratoma in stage IIB-IV, chorion carcinoma in every stage, and should only be carried out in specialized oncological centers. Delayed and inconsequent treatment must be avoided. Only then more than 75% of patients treated with polychemotherapy can be freed from tumor, even up to 50% of those cases with unfavorable histology and extensive tumor stage.