Metastasizing testicular germ-cell tumor with infiltration of the right heart: indication for primary metastasectomy.

Cardiac intracavitary metastases are very uncommon. The case of a 42-year-old male patient with a testicular germ cell tumor extending into the superior caval vein, the left brachiocephalic vein, and the right heart, which manifested as a mild form of pulmonary embolization, is presented. Due to the perceived high risk of continuous embolization and the urgent need to begin systemic chemotherapy, a complete cardiac tumor resection was performed, utilizing a cardiopulmonary bypass, followed by a simultaneous orchiectomy.

Diagnostic value of tumour marker regression models in stage 1 marker-positive testicular cancer.

The decay pattern and half-life period evaluation of serum tumour markers are useful parameters in the management of testicular cancer in clinic stage 1. Alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin serum levels measured after orchiectomy can be used to predict the tumour stage. However, the optimal strategy for marker analysis after orchiectomy has not yet been defined.

Our experience with 23 consecutive patients on gemcitabine/carboplatin chemotherapy for treatment of metastasized transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium.

Aim: To evaluate the activity and toxicity of gemcitabine plus carboplatin in patients with metastatic transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urothelium.

Methods: Twenty-three consecutive patients (from February 1999 to January 2002) with metastatic TCC and no prior chemotherapy were referred to our institution. Each patient was treated with gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2) on Days 1 and 8 and carboplatin (area under curve, 4.