[Familial occurrence of tumors and developmental anomalies of the testis]

Family occurrence ranks belong the factors followed in etiology and pathogenesis of germ-cell tumours of the testis. Its association with abnormal testicular development, respectively with other risk factors is relatively frequent.

The aim of this study was to indicate this coherence by means of case histories of author's patients and to propose further procedures.

There were 535 patients treated for testicular cancer in the period of 1982-1994. Family occurrence was observed in 6 cases (1.12%), most frequently incombination with maldescensus testis. Individual families were analysed in detail, including HLA typization. Bilaterality of testicular cancer was observed in two brothers who were HLA identical. Other two brothers had the history of bilateral maldescensus testis, one of whom was subdued to bilateral orchiectomy in childhood, the other at the age of 16, a tumour in one testicle following orchidopexy performed in childhood. The history of maldesensus testis was observed in four members of another family, two of whom developed tumours. CONCLUSIONS AND MEANING FOR PRACTICE: Authors recommend supplementation of the initial examination of each patient with suspective testicular cancer with detailed family history aim at the occurrence of urogenital anomalies and tumours. General knowledge of the first-degree relatives about the possibility of family occurrence of tumours, and instructions for testicular self-examination are considered as the most suitable method from the stand point of secondary prevention. (Ref. 21.)