Childhood infections, orchitis and testicular germ cell tumours: a report from the STEED study and a meta-analysis of existing data.

BACKGROUND

Similarities between the age-specific incidence pattern of testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) and the age-specific incidence pattern of cancers of viral origin prompted us to evaluate the relationship between common infections occurring during childhood or young adult life and TGCT using existing data from the US Servicemen's Testicular Tumor Environmental and Endocrine Determinants (STEED) case-control study.

METHODS

TGCT cases diagnosed between 2002 and 2005 (n=767) were matched on age, race and serum draw date to at least one control (n=929).

RESULTS

None of the infections evaluated were associated with TGCT risk. Further, a meta-analysis of mumps and mumps orchitis or orchitis infection did not support an association with TGCT (mumps pooled odds ratio (OR): 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.89-1.20; mumps orchitis or orchitis pooled OR: 1.80, 95% CI: 0.74-4.42).

CONCLUSION

Based on our evaluation of childhood and early life infections and meta-analyses of mumps and mumps orchitis and/or orchitis, TGCT does not appear to be associated with common childhood infections.