Seminoma

In a seminoma (Latin semen = "seed" ) is a malignant germ cell tumor of the testis, which has its origins in the degeneration of spermatogonia ( germ tissue).

The seminoma occurs somewhat later - an average of 37- year-old males - as the Nichtseminom on. Typical early symptom is painless swelling of one testicle usually.

Treatment

The treatment is done stadiums justice. In early stages, the risk of occult metastasis is located (ie, metastasis, which is not yet recognizable despite regular equitable staging investigation ) in the regional lymph nodes at about 20 %; that is, one out of five patients who were not treated, there is a recurrence of the disease in the lymph nodes in the peritoneal cavity. Seminomas, which are smaller than 4 cm and do not show infiltration of the surrounding tissue, have a lower risk of metastasis. After orchidectomy displayed may not be awaited and closely monitored ( Wait and see ) and irradiated or chemo therapy when recurrence of the disease. Since the irradiation is a risk for other cancers, it is now waived for mild stages (IA or IB ) usually. Other measures in addition to the wait-and -see method are undergoing chemotherapy with the agent carboplatin in stage IA and IB. In other stages other drugs are used or radiotherapy performed. Meanwhile, the chemotherapy is administered with carboplatin and only patients at risk. Chemotherapy lowers the risk of recurrence while about 5% and is well tolerated in general.

As a further follow-up measures an MRI abdomen and a chest x-ray ( chest) in two levels are recommended at varying intervals.