Management and outcome of bilateral testicular germ cell tumors: Twenty-five year experience in Munich

We analyzed characteristics, therapy and outcome of patients with bilateral testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) at our institutions. Among 1 180 TGCT patients diagnosed and/or treated between 1979 and 2003, 47 (4.0%) developed a second TGCT. Nine of 14 patients (64%) with synchronous TGCT are alive with no evidence of disease (NED) at a median follow-up of 37 months. Thirty-three patients had a metachronous bilateral TGCT. Median time to the 2(nd) TGCT was 71 months. At diagnosis of 2(nd) TGCT 30 patients had stage I, 1 had stage II and 2 had stage III disease. Thirty-two of 33 patients are alive with NED at a median follow up of 41 months. No patient died from second TGCT. As a review of the literature confirms our data we do not recommend a routine biopsy of the contralateral testicle for early detection of testicular intraepithelial neoplasia (TIN).