The pathological spectrum of malignant testicular tumours in northern Pakistan.

Objective: To determine the pattern of testicular malignant tumours in northern Pakistan.
Methods: The study included all malignant testicular tumours, diagnosed from January 2001 to June 2006. All histologically diagnosed malignant tumours of testis were retrieved from the case files. Basic epidemiological data regarding each case was collected from the request forms. The data was then analysed for the site of involvement, age distribution and histological types of tumours.
Results: During the study period a total of 107 patients had testicular malignancies, constituting 0.74% of all malignant tumours and 1.24% of all male malignancies diagnosed during this period. Peak incidence was in 30-40 years age group and a second peak was observed in the above 60 age group. Germ cell tumours (67%) were the most frequent histological type followed by non Hodgkin lymphoma; the latter particularly was responsible for the peak in the older age groups. Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant increase registration of testicular tumours as compared to our previous analysis.
Conclusion: The study points out that the incidence of testicular cancer is low in our set up as in other Asian countries. The histological pattern is predictable except that the testicular non Hodgkin lymphoma is more contrary, to reported elsewhere and probably responsible for the second peak observed in the present series.