Telegammatherapy of testicular malignant tumours

In the years 1967-1973 62 patients treated previously surgically for malignant testicular tumours were given radical and palliative radiotherapy with cobalt-60 at the Institute of Oncology in Gliwice. In 35 cases (56%) metastases were diagnosed clinically or radiologically before radiotherapy. After radical radiotherapy combined with operation a 3-year survival rate without symptoms was achieved in 81% of cases of testicular seminoma, while the 5-year survival rate was 79%. In the group of embryonal carcinoma 3 out of 12 treated patients survived 3 years after operation and radical radiotherapy, one out of 8 patients survived 5 years. The patients tolerated usually well cobalt-60 radiotherapy after operations for testicular tumours. In a part of these gases leucopenia and gastrointestinal disturbances developed, and the intensity of these side effects depended clearly after radical radiotherapy on the size of the irradiated area. (author)