[Testicular germinal cell tumors. Authors' case load. Treatment review]

This article reports our case series of testicle germinal cell tumours, consisting of 14 cases, between 1974-1991. 42.85% (6 cases) were seminomas, 4 (66.6%) in Stage I. There was one case (16.6%) in Stage III and another one in Stage IV. 14.29% (2 cases) were embryonic carcinomas, one in Stage I and one in Stage II. Teratomas represented 14.29% (2 cases), in Stages I and IV respectively. There were 4 cases of mixed tumours (2 cases) in which teratomatous components (3 out of 4) were predominant. 50% were in Stage I and 50% in Stage III. Inguinal orchiectomy was performed in all cases, and three received radiotherapy (seminomas in Stages I (2 cases) and III), with survival ranging from 1 to 7 years. Two cases (seminoma and embryonic carcinoma) received chemotherapy under different regimes depending on the time of diagnosis. One patient has survived 11 years following rescue lymphadenectomy while the other one died 14 months later from pulmonary metastasis. Among the mixed tumours, 50% (2 cases in Stages II and III) died 5 and 11 months afterwards without further treatment due to overall affectation at diagnosis. An abstentionist approach in Stage I (seminomas and non-seminomas), which was "strictly" applied in 5 cases showing disease-free survival ranging from 1 to 5 years, is defended. Follow-up was not feasible in 2 cases (14.2%). Both the diagnostic means and a review of treatment by Stages, reflecting the evolution of chemotherapy and the results obtained, are analyzed. Also the most widely accepted approaches in the management of these tumours.