Medical Health Encyclopedia

Testicular cancer

Testicular cancers may be classified as follows:

• Seminomas account for about 30-40% of all testicular tumors. These are usually is found in men in their 30s and 40s. The condition is usually localized to the testes, although in about 25% of cases it has spread to lymph nodes.
• Non-seminomas account for 60% of all testicular tumors; subcategories of these tumors are listed below. Non-seminoma tumors often contain more than one of the following cell types:
  • Embryonal carcinoma (about 20% of testicular cancers) occurs in 20-30 year olds and is highly malignant. It grows rapidly and spreads to the lung and liver.
  • Yolk sac tumor (about 60% of all testicular cancers in young boys).
  • Teratomata (about 7% of testicular cancers in adult men and 40% in young boys).
  • Choriocarcinoma (rare).

Stromal cell tumors are a kind of tumor that is made of Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, and granulose cells. These tumors account for only 3-4% of all testicular tumors. However, these do make up nearly 20% of all childhood testicular tumors. These tumors may secrete a hormone -- estradiol -- that can cause one of the symptoms of testicular cancer, gynecomastia (excessive development of male breast tissue).

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