Testicular Choriocarcinoma With an Unusual Clinical Onset: Lessons Learned From This Case Report

Germ cell tumors account for 95% of testicular tumors, in men 15 to 35 years of age. Testicular choriocarcinoma is the rarest and most aggressive form of testicular cancer. The 5-year survival prognosis, for patients, is less than 80%. Diagnosis and pathologic staging are performed by using sonography, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging. Sonography is the primary diagnostic tool that allows for the recognition of a testicular mass, as well as possible abdominal metastases. It may also require integration of multi-imaging techniques to better determine the stage of the disease. The treatment of choice is chemotherapy with a protocol of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin, which represents primary therapy. This study describes a case of testicular choriocarcinoma, with an unusual onset and abdominal swelling, in a youth.