Diagnosis of Testicular Cancer

The most common method of diagnosing testicular cancer is through a testicular ultrasound. The ultrasound is used to look at the density, size and shape of the testicles and other masses in the scrotum. If a testicular mass is solid, it is a sign of a tumor, as most other testicular conditions involve fluid build-up. A testicular ultrasound is 100% accurate in differentiating testicular cancer from other possible diagnoses. The following images show examples of normal and abnormal ultrasounds. Click on any image for an enlargment. Ultrasound of a normal testicle. Note the uniform appearance of the testicle. The white specks are microlithiasis, which is benign. This image shows the interior of a cancerous testicle. The darker (denser) sections represent cancer, which has taken over about three-quarters of the testicle. This image shows the testicle on the right, the epididymis in the middle, and a cancerous testicular mass on the left. After an orchiectomy, in which the testicle and its attached plumbing is removed, the diseased tissue is sent to a pathologist for examination. The pathologist will determine whether the tissue is a malignant tumor, and if so, whether it is a seminoma (tumors composed of sperm-producing cells) or non-seminoma. The pathologist will also look for neoplasm (cancerous tumors) in the epididymis, seminal ducts, lymph vessels and blood vessels to gain an indication of whether the cancer has spread beyond the testicles. Blood and urine tests will be used to check for signs of infection, and to measure tumor serum markers, such as beta-HCG, AFP, and LDH. A CT scan of the pelvis, abdomen and chest, and a chest x-ray will be used to determine whether the cancer has spread beyond the testicles. This is often referred to as the staging of the cancer. Home | What is Testicular Cancer? | Risk Factors | Detection | Diagnosis | Staging | Treatment Causes | Checklist | Costs | Cancer Jokes | Cancer Scholarships | Sites