Testicular Cancer: A 10 year Experience at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

Abstract

Introduction: Testicular cancer is a rare malignancy.They make up one of the most common solid malignancy in men aged 15 to 40 years. Reports of increasing incidence of testicular cancer in Western world have been noted. Despite the increasing incidence, mortality has remained low in the developed  world.  There  are  few  publications  on testicular cancer in South-South, Nigeria. Objectives: To highlight our experience in the management of testicular cancer. Materials and Methods: This is a 10 year retrospective study on patients diagnosed with histologically confirmed testicular cancer from January 2009 to December 2018. The case records were retrieved, and patient data, obtained was analyzed using SPSS version. Results: Eleven patients with testicular cancer were managed during the study period. The prevalence of testicular cancer observed in the present study was 0.01%. Peak age was 20-29years (54.55%), with a mean age of 29.27yrs. The most common presentation was  scrotal  swelling  observed  in  nine  (81.8%) patients (X2=4.69; p=0.03). ). Nine (81.8%) patients presented after 6 months of symptoms with advanced disease. Distant metastasis was seen in two (18.2%) patients. Right sided disease was found in seven (63.6%) and left sided disease in four (36.4%). All had radical inguinal orchidectomy. The most common histological diagnosis was seminoma. All the subjects were offered chemotherapy with bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin. However, only four (36.4%) completed chemotherapy. None had radiotherapy. Conclusion: This study highlights the low prevalence of testicular cancer in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Late presentation and advanced stage are important factors leading to poor survival. Adequate chemotherapy improves survival. Mortality is unacceptably high in Port Harcourt.