Elective testicular biopsy at the end of maintenance treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A prospective study.

Open testicular wedge biopsy has electively been performed prior to completion of maintenance therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. 25 boys during 6 years were included in this prospective study. Three boys developed testicular enlargement while on maintenance therapy and biopsies confirmed testicular leukemia. The remaining 22 boys were biopsied at termination of maintenance therapy. Occult testicular relapse was revealed on histologic examination in only one boy with normal testicular size. During the follow-up period, one boy developed overt testicular relapse two months after negative biopsy. These results will not justify electively performed routine biopsy prior to termination of chemotherapy. Instead, careful and minute clinical examination of the testicles, estimating their size and consistence, should be performed regularly at short intervals.