Bilateral testicular tumor.

Of 396 cases of bilateral testicular tumors reported in the literature through 1979 the tumors were the same histologically in 217 cases (seminoma in 163 and nonseminoma in 54), different in 47 and malignant lymphomas in 68; no histological details were given in 64 cases. In our 18 cases of bilateral testicular tumors the tumors were the same histologically in 5 patients (seminoma in 4 and nonseminoma in 1), different in 6 and malignant lymphomas in 7. The epidemiology, interval between the first and second tumors, histology, diagnosis, therapy and prognosis are discussed. Diagnostic measures are determined by the histology of the first tumor and its treatment. Therapy of the second tumor depends on the interval between the 2 tumors as well as on histologic differentiation of the second tumor. The exceptions in the diagnosis, therapy and prognosis for malignant lymphomas are discussed. We do not believe that the prognosis in cases of bilateral germinal cell tumors is poor.