Is a contralateral testicular biopsy in patients with unilateral germ cell testicular cancer indicated as a routine procedure?

Contralateral biopsies in patients with testicular germ cell tumours: What is the rationale?

INTRODUCTION

In 1979, the Copenhagen group around Dr. Skakkebaek introduced contralateral biopsy in patients with testicular germ cell tumour (GCT) as a means of early diagnosing a contralateral testicular tumour (Berthelsen et al. in Br Med J 2(6186):363-364, 1). Although the rationale of contralateral biopsies is based on much of scientific evidence, no issue regarding the management of GCTs has been more controversial than the issue of contralateral biopsies (Heidenreich in BJU Int 104(9 Pt B):1346-1350, 2; Grigor and Rorth in Eur Urol 23(1):129-135, 3). A poll conducted during the GCT Consensus Meeting in Berlin 2011 revealed that 43 % of 60 leading experts would not recommend a contralateral biopsy and only 13.7 % would do the biopsy in all cases with GCT (Beyer et al. in Ann Oncol 24(4):878-888, 4). Likewise, the European Association of Urology and the European Society of Medical Oncology offer only weak recommendations with respect to contralateral biopsies in their guidelines of testicular cancer (Albers et al. in Eur Urol 68(6):1054-1068, 5; Oldenburg et al. in Ann Oncol 24(Suppl 6):vi125-vi132, 6).

CONCLUSION

This review summarizes contemporary knowledge regarding contralateral biopsies to provide professionals caring for GCT patients with sufficient information to decide for or against the procedure in clinical practice.

Management of the contralateral testicle in patients with unilateral testicular cancer

Patients with a prior history of a germ cell tumor of the testicle are known to have an increased risk of development of a second germ cell tumor in the contralateral testicle. It is believed that all patients who develop a germ cell tumor of the testicle have a precursor lesion know as carcinoma in situ (CIS) or intratubular germ cell neoplasia. Approximately 50% of these patients will subsequently go on to develop a germ cell tumor in the testicle. A biopsy of the contralateral testicle in a patient with a previous history of a germ cell tumor of the testicle has been advocated by some, while others recommend a biopsy only in patients with other risk factors as well. The arguments for biopsy are that intervention may be used to prevent the development of a second germ cell tumor when CIS is detected. In this review we present the arguments for and against a biopsy of the contralateral testicle, review the techniques of biopsy as well as its complications, and discuss the interventions employed to prevent CIS from progressing.

Contralateral intratubular germ cell neoplasia in a patient with testicular cancer

BACKGROUND

A 27-year-old man was referred to an oncology department following right orchiectomy for a stage I testicular seminoma at high risk for recurrence. He presented 6 weeks after the orchiectomy with an atrophic left testis, fatigue and a history of infertility.

INVESTIGATIONS

Measurement of serum levels of urea, electrolytes, liver enzymes, bilirubin, human chorionic gonadotropin, alpha-fetoprotein, lactate dehydrogenase, testosterone and luteinizing hormone, full blood count, and left testicular biopsy.

DIAGNOSIS

Tubular atrophy of the left testis with islands of intratubular germ cell neoplasia (ITGCN), and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism.

MANAGEMENT

The patient received adjuvant chemotherapy as a single dose of carboplatin for the seminoma at high risk for recurrence, and testosterone replacement for the hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. Radiotherapy to the ITGCN-bearing solitary testis or a second orchiectomy was offered to prevent the progression of ITGCN into an invasive germ cell tumor. After exploring his options with regards to fertility treatment, the patient chose to undergo second orchiectomy with a subsequent, unsuccessful, attempt at sperm retrieval. At 20 months after diagnosis of his initial seminoma the patient showed no sign of recurrence.

ITGCN of the Testis, Contralateral Testicular Biopsy and Bilateral Testicular Cancer

Over 30 years ago Skakkebaek was the first to characterize a noninvasive precursor lesion (intratubular germ cell neoplasia or carcinoma in situ) that would progress to invasive testicular tumors. In this article we discuss the molecular changes thought to cause this malignant transformation, various conditions that predispose to the development of testicular germ cell tumors, diagnostic strategies, and treatment options. Additionally we discuss the current patterns of contralateral testicular biopsy to identify intratubular germ cell neoplasia, as well as the incidence and management of bilateral testicular tumors.