RADICAL ORCHIECTOMY FOR TUMORS OF THE TESTIS

The varied cellular structure of testicular tumors suggests that no single method of treatment is universally applicable. Simple orchiectomy can cure in but a small percentage of cases because of the frequency of early metastasis. The combined therapy of simple orchiectomy and radiation therapy, which is employed by the members of the profession throughout the country, using the standard 250,000 volt roentgen equipment, has proved adequate only for seminoma. Radical orchiectomy, as described by Chevassu,¹ was abandoned by Young, and limited to teratomas by Hinman² because of the relative frequency with which inoperable metastasis was found in their patients. I shall try to show that a clinicalpathologic classification of testicular tumors indicates that surgical treatment should be extended and radiation therapy rationalized.

DIAGNOSIS  The cure of testis tumors depends on control of the retroperitoneal metastatic areas, and the operability depends primarily on early diagnosis. The differential diagnosis of