Bilateral germ cell tumors of the testis

In a retrospective study of 530 patients with testicular germ cell tumors treated between 1977 and 1993, a group of 12 patients (2.26%) with bilateral testicular tumors was analyzed. While bilateral tumors were simultaneously present in two cases (both with different histologic types), consecutive development of a tumor in the contralateral testis was observed in 10 patients 5.25 years (range, 3-13.5 years) after orchiectomy for the first tumor. The authors highlight the variability of histologic types in both testes, the need for an individual therapeutic approach with a view to previous therapy for the first tumor, the need for hormonal replacement as well as the possibility of testicular prosthesis implantation following bilateral orchiectomy.