Title:Role of Imaging in Testicular Cancer
VOLUME: 13 ISSUE: 1
Author(s):Mandip Dulal, Jing Lei, She-Wei Dou and Shao-Cheng Zhu
Affiliation:Zhengzhou University, Henan
Keywords:Testicular cancer, Testicular mass, CT, MRI, Diagnosis, Staging, Imaging.
Abstract:Testicular malignancy is the most common nonhematologic malignancy in young men.
Around 95% of them are germ cell tumors (GCTs), and with correct assessment of the disease and
application of chemotherapy and radiotherapy survival rates of more than 90% can be achieved.
Imaging studies not only aid in the diagnosis of testicular cancer but also help determine the tumor
extent and site of metastatic disease, in monitoring treatment response, surgical planning and
detecting sites of relapse and residual disease. Scrotal sonography combined with clinical
examination has a high sensitivity for diagnosing testicular cancer and thus is often the first imaging
modality to be performed on patients presenting with testicular mass. Abdominal and pelvic CT and
chest CT remain the preferred techniques for staging, monitoring of treatment response, and
detecting relapse and residual disease in patients with testicular cancer but MRI, PET with 18F-FDG
(fluorodeoxyglucose) and sonography also show promises in certain situations. This article reviews
the literatures on the role of imaging in the management of testicular germ cell cancer.