Surveillance for stage I testicular seminoma. a review.

There is good evidence that patients with stage I seminoma can be managed equally well after orchidectomy with surveillance and adjuvant retroperitoneal radiation therapy. There is considerable reluctance amongst many physicians to accept surveillance as a management option in stage I seminoma and this is largely based on the excellent results achieved with adjuvant retroperiteonal radiation for many years. However, patients with stage I seminoma have a long life span and it is possible that the long-term sequelae of radiation treatment could have a negative impact on quality of life and longevity. It is of utmost importance to continue the study of the long-term effects of all current treatment approaches, in particular the risk of induction of second malignancies. However, the psychosocial impact on patients of surveillance and other management strategies must also be assessed. Stage I testicular seminoma is highly curable with currently available management approaches and the current challenge for clinicians is to maintain these excellent results while minimizing toxicity and individualising treatment to the specific social, economic and emotional circumstances of each patient. Surveillance should be one of the management options offered to patients with stage I seminoma.