Testicular relapse after 13 years of complete remission of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Girls with acute lymphoblastic leukemia appear to have a higher cure rate than boys. This is in part attributable to the reoccurrence of testicular disease in boys. Although the frequency of testicular relapse is less than 5% with current intensive therapy regimens, testicular disease remains of apparent clinical importance. Here we report an unusually late testicular relapse in an 18-year-old male after 12.7 years of continuous complete remission, and review the literature regarding this late failure.