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Approximately 90-95% of testicular cancers originate in cells used for sperm production, called “germ cells.” There are two main types of testicular cancer: seminoma and non-seminoma.
**Seminoma Tumors**
Seminoma tumors have these two key characteristics:
* Tend to develop more slowly than non-seminoma tumors.
* Typically appear between ages 25 and 45, though they can occur at older ages.
**Non-Seminoma Tumors**
Non-seminoma tumors have these characteristics:
* Tend to develop more rapidly than seminomas.
* Have four main subtypes: teratoma, choriocarcinoma, yolk sac tumor, and embryonal carcinoma.
* Usually appear in late adolescence and early thirties.
**Other Tumors**
**Mixed Tumors**
Sometimes a testicular cancer may contain a mixture of seminoma and non-seminoma cells, or a combination of different subtypes of non-seminoma cells (mixed tumors).
**Stromal Tumors**
Stromal tumors arise in the cells that make up the supportive (structural) and hormone-producing tissue of the testes. They are usually benign and are removed surgically.
**Intratubular Germ Cell Neoplasia (ITGCN or IGCN)**
Some testicular cancers begin as a condition called intratubular germ cell neoplasia (ITGCN or IGCN). In this condition, the cells are abnormal, but they haven't spread beyond the area where sperm cells develop. ITGCN is not cancer; however, there's approximately a 50% chance it will develop into testicular cancer within five years. About 5-10% of men diagnosed with testicular cancer have ITGCN. ITGCN shares similar risk factors to testicular cancer. ITGCN is difficult to diagnose because it has no symptoms and can only be detected by testing a tissue sample.
What are the Types of Testicular Cancer?
**Seminoma Tumors**
Seminoma tumors have these two key characteristics:
* Tend to develop more slowly than non-seminoma tumors.
* Typically appear between ages 25 and 45, though they can occur at older ages.
**Non-Seminoma Tumors**
Non-seminoma tumors have these characteristics:
* Tend to develop more rapidly than seminomas.
* Have four main subtypes: teratoma, choriocarcinoma, yolk sac tumor, and embryonal carcinoma.
* Usually appear in late adolescence and early thirties.
**Other Tumors**
**Mixed Tumors**
Sometimes a testicular cancer may contain a mixture of seminoma and non-seminoma cells, or a combination of different subtypes of non-seminoma cells (mixed tumors).
**Stromal Tumors**
Stromal tumors arise in the cells that make up the supportive (structural) and hormone-producing tissue of the testes. They are usually benign and are removed surgically.
**Intratubular Germ Cell Neoplasia (ITGCN or IGCN)**
Some testicular cancers begin as a condition called intratubular germ cell neoplasia (ITGCN or IGCN). In this condition, the cells are abnormal, but they haven't spread beyond the area where sperm cells develop. ITGCN is not cancer; however, there's approximately a 50% chance it will develop into testicular cancer within five years. About 5-10% of men diagnosed with testicular cancer have ITGCN. ITGCN shares similar risk factors to testicular cancer. ITGCN is difficult to diagnose because it has no symptoms and can only be detected by testing a tissue sample.