Testicular Cancer

In this lecture, Professor Zach Murphy provides a comprehensive and clinically relevant overview of testicular cancer, the most common solid malignancy in young adult men. This discussion integrates epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment, giving you a full understanding of this high-yield topic.

We begin by reviewing risk factors, including cryptorchidism, family history, prior testicular cancer, and certain genetic conditions. The lecture explains how these factors contribute to malignant transformation within the germinal epithelium, with a focus on the distinction between seminomas and nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCTs), along with their differing growth patterns, metastasis tendencies, and treatment responses.

Zach then covers the clinical presentation, most often a painless unilateral testicular mass, and less commonly symptoms from metastatic spread, such as back pain, cough, or supraclavicular lymphadenopathy. We discuss the key role of tumor markers—AFP, β-hCG, and LDH—in both diagnosis and follow-up, emphasizing their diagnostic specificity for tumor subtypes.

The diagnostic approach is outlined, highlighting scrotal ultrasound as the first-line imaging modality, staging with CT of the abdomen and pelvis, and the importance of avoiding transscrotal biopsy to prevent tumor seeding. Management strategies are reviewed based on staging and tumor type, including radical inguinal orchiectomy, radiation therapy for seminomas, and chemotherapy regimens for advanced disease.

Enjoy the lecture and support us below!

Table of Contents:

0:00 Lab
00:44 Pathophysiology of Testicular Cancer
25:21 Classic Findings and Complications of Testicular Cancer
42:19 Diagnostic Approach to Testicular Cancer
50:42 Treatment of Testicular Cancer
56:12 Comment, Like, SUBSCRIBE!

‍