PATERNITY IN MEN WITH STAGE-I TESTIS TUMORS ON SURVEILLANCE

Purpose: We report long-term paternity in men with stage I testis tumo rs who were managed initially by surveillance. Patients and Methods: O ne hundred five patients with clinical stage I nonseminomatous germ ce ll tumors of the testis were entered on a surveillance protocol and fo llowed up for more than 10 years. Actual fertility potential was asses sed by pregnancy. Results: Of the 105 patients, 41 (39%) have fathered children, which includes 36 of 78 (46%) patients while on active surv eillance and five of 27 (19%) patients after treatment for relapse. Of 63 couples who attempted a pregnancy on surveillance or were presumed capable of impregnation (whether they tried or not), 41 (65%) were su ccessful. Conclusion: These results show that the majority of men with stage I testis tumor who are on surveillance after orchiectomy, have a suitable partner, and attempt impregnation achieve a successful preg nancy. Pregnancy rates appear to be less than reported in men who have a nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) because more patients on surveillance require treatment for relapse, which re duces their chances for pregnancy. (C) 1998 by American Society of Cli nical Oncology.