Is testicular microlithiasis a really innocent condition? Its effects on oncological outcomes of germ cell testicular cancer: An observational study.

OBJECTIVES

Although it is a well known condition that presence of testicular microlithiasis (TM) with the co-occurrence of specific risk factors such as historyof previous germ cell testicular cancer (GCTC), infertility, undescended testes or atrophic testes have high risks for GCTC development, TM is still a controversial topic. Its effects on oncological outcomes have still not been investigated in detail. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether the presence of TM has an effect on GCTC prognosis and oncological outcomes.

METHODS

Seventy five patients among 93 patients who underwent radical orchidectomy between January 2010 and February 2016 were selected and divided into two groups. Group I consisted of 51 patients without TM. Group II consisted of 24 patients with TM. Each groups were compared in terms of demographic datas, prognostic risk factors, complete blood count parameters and oncological outcomes.

RESULTS

During the median follow-up of 58 (1-106) months, a significantly higher local recurrence rate (54.2% vs. 3.9%, p<0.001) distant metastasis rate (58.3% vs. 5.9%, p<0.001) and lower cancer-specific survival rate (45.8% vs. 94.1%, p<0.001) were observed in patients with TM. In this group, the duration of recurrence-free survival (47.65±9.45 vs.101.96±2.80 months, p<0.001), metstais-free survival (49.50±8.88 vs. 100.00±3.36 months, p<0.001) and cancer-specific survival (54.37±8.76  vs. 100.19±3.25 months, p<0.001) were also statisticaly lower. In multivariate analysis, β-hCG, LDH, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, monocyte/lymphocyte ratio and the presence of undescended testis were found as independent predictive factors for local recurrence, distant metastasis and cancer-specific survival. Red blood cell distribution width and the presence of testicular microlithiasis were found to be independent predictive factors for local recurrence.

CONCLUSION

According to our results, bilateral TM was associated with higher rates of local recurrence, distant metastasis and cancer spesific mortality in presenceof risk factors, regardless of classic or limited microlithiasis.