Testicular tumours in children

Testicular tumours in children

• Paediatric testicular tumours are distinct from adult testicular tumours. GCTs in adults represent about 95% of all testicular tumours but only 60–75% in children. The most common malignant tumour in children is the yolk sac tumour, which is very rare in its pure form in adults. Surgical treatment usually begins with radical orchidectomy , which is often recommended whenever the AFP level is elevated (suggesting the presence of a yolk sac tumour at age >1 year). A normal AFP level in children suggests a strong likelihood of a benign tumour. For such tumours, as in cases of epidermoid cysts, testis-sparing - surgery of the mass rather than radical orchidectomy can be considered. Paratesticular tumours are rare and account for about 5% of all intrascrotal tumours. Between 70% and 80% of all these tumours are benign and 30% of these occur in the epididymis. Epididymis tumours are commonly soft tissue or mesothelial neoplasm in origin. Benign cystadenomas, papillary tumours and adenomatoid tumours are the most common, although malignant sarcoma or secondary metastasis from a carcinoma may also occur. They are extremely rare.