Computed tomography in the radiology of testicular teratomas

Thirty patients with testicular teratomas were examined by computed tomography (CT), lymphangiography and chest X-rays/tomography and the role of each investigation in the staging and management of these tumours is examined. It is suggested that CT should be the primary investigation of the abdomen in patients with testicular teratomas and that the lymphangiogram should be reserved for those cases where CT is technically inadequate or where biochemical markers are raised despite a negative CT scan. In the thorax a conventional chest X-ray should be taken and used for follow-up where possible, but CT scans should be performed in all cases with less than three metastases shown on chest radiography.