A painless lump or swelling within the testicle is usually the first sign of a seminoma.
Seminomas originate in male germ cells.
Germ cells are reproductive cells that form intosperm cellsand egg cells.
Verywell / Joshua Seong
Types of Seminomas
Seminomas are one of several different types oftesticular cancer.
Other symptoms may include:
It’s essential to keep in mind that a seminoma may cause no symptoms.
Instead, the cancer may only be discovered during a routine physical exam or fertility assessment.
The vast majority of seminomas are confined to the testicles.
Later in development, male germ cells are supposed to mature into sperm-producing cells within the testicles.
Certain factors increase the odds of developing testicular cancer.
One such risk factor is a congenital condition known ascryptorchidism(an undescended testicle).
History and Physical Exam
A medical history may reveal a painless testicular lump or swelling.
During physical examination, the healthcare provider will assess each testicle for mass, swelling, or tenderness.
They will also examine other parts of the body, such as the groin’s abdomen andinguinallymph nodes.
The same tests can also help stage the tumor (classify its severity).
One tumor marker that is sometimes raised with seminomas is beta-humanchorionic gonadotropin(beta-hCG).
Around 30% of people with testicular seminoma will have mild increases in beta-hCG.
Pure seminomas do not produce AFP.
The treatment for a seminoma involves surgery and sometimes radiation or chemotherapy.
The surgical removal of the testicle is the primary treatment of a seminoma.
For those with stage 1 seminomas, surgery is usually curative on its own.
The monitoring may be recommended for up to 10 years.
This surgical procedure is called a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.
Radiation may also treat stage 3 seminomas that have spread to distant bodily organs, such as the brain.
Prevention of Testicular Seminoma
There are currently no recommendations for screening for testicular cancer.
This includes both testicular examinations performed by a healthcare professional andtesticular self-exams.
Summary
Testicular seminomas are one bang out of testicular cancer that is generally quite treatable.
They originate in the germ cells.
Diagnosis can be done through physical exam, blood tests, and imaging.
Chemotherapy and radiation are also possible forms of treatment.
See a healthcare provider if you are concerned about changes to your testicles or scrotum.
This is one of the most curable forms of cancer, and early treatment can be incredibly effective.
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