[Is organ saving surgery of testicular tumor justified?]

Eight patients with malignant germ cell tumours of residual testes had organ-conserving surgery. The largest diameters of the tumours were 9-32 mm. In seven patients conservation of the organ was successful without local or systemic progression (n = 5), two patients needed chemotherapy for concurrent or subsequent metastatic spread. In one case the testis had to be removed because of functional loss. Improved surgical techniques and increased knowledge of the importance and treatment of testicular intraepithelial neoplasm (carcinoma in situ) made this approach of enucleating resection possible; it permits the maintenance of endogenous androgen production in a small group of patients. The generally good prognosis of malignant testicular tumours means that in certain circumstances surgical treatment of the primary tumour can be limited.