Testicular-sparing surgery: A reasonable option in selected patients with testicular lesions

OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience of inguinal exploration in patients who had a reasonable chance of having a benign testicular lesion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1995 to 2002, 11 patients (mean age 43 years, range 27-63) with testicular masses that were suspected to be benign underwent inguinal exploration. RESULTS: In nine of the 11 patients, frozen-section analysis and the final pathological results were similar, and two underwent inguinal orchidectomy. In seven patients the testicle was spared. Finally, because of an uncertain pathological diagnosis and patient age, two patients underwent orchidectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Inguinal exploration and testicular-sparing surgery are reasonable options in patients with peripheral intratesticular lesions, on the basis of preoperative ultrasonographic characteristics, and if there is a possibility of the mass being benign because of age, race, physical examination and tumour markers.