Primary Chemotherapy in a 47-Year-Old Patient with Giant Ulcerative and Necrotizing Nonseminomatous Testicular Germ Cell Tumor

Abstract

Testicular cancer is a rare disease; however, cure rates are high for all tumor stages. Mostly, the disease is diagnosed in an early (local) stage. We report the case of a 47-year-old male patient with a giant nonseminomatous germ cell tumor. At the time of diagnosis, the patient demonstrated a necrotizing and ulcerating growing mass in the left scrotum with an approximate size of 22 × 18 cm. According to the prognostic classification of the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG 1997), the patient exhibited a high-risk profile due to alpha-fetoprotein >10,000 ng/mL and lactate dehydrogenase >10× the upper limit of normal in serum. Primary orchiectomy was infeasible due to the tumor’s size, the patient’s poor general condition and initial intensive care unit treatment. Primary systemic chemotherapy was applied. After 3 cycles of cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin, along with 1 cycle of cisplatin, etoposide and ifosfamide, tumor resection with histomorphological examination showed a complete pathological response. Despite the delayed initiation of the therapy, primary chemotherapy was completed timely and showed promising results. Reasons for the late hospitalization were personal responsibilities regarding his family. Better awareness and knowledge of testicular cancer among young men might prevent the here reported delay of medical consultation and avoid testicular tumors of such enormous size. Psychosocial assessment and distress management is important as an integral part of comprehensive care of testicular cancer patients.

Keywords

• cancer survivors
• germ cell tumor
• orchiectomy
• primary chemotherapy
• psychosocial distress