Exploration of treatment options for the management of stage I testicular seminoma

Seminoma is the epitome of a highly treatable neoplastic malignancy. Approximately 80% of patients presenting with seminomatous germ cell tumors are diagnosed with stage I disease. Men with clinical stage I seminomas have an excellent chance of achieving a cure irrespective of the treatment option selected. With such high disease-specific survival rates, attention has turned to reducing treatment-related morbidity. Adjuvant radiotherapy to the para-aortic retroperitoneal lymph nodes in conjunction with orchidectomy has been the standard treatment since the mid-1990s. There is some evidence, however, suggesting potential deleterious long-term sequelae from radiation treatment. Adjuvant chemotherapy has gained support as an acceptable adjuvant treatment strategy for stage I seminoma. While long-term studies are limited, short-term data regarding the therapeutic efficacy of single-agent carboplatin are promising. Finally, surveillance following orchidectomy is an attractive option for motivated patients interested in avoiding immediate adjuvant therapy. It may be the optimal choice for compliant men who are able to handle the mental burden of not receiving active treatment.