testicular cancer staging

[lazers]

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is the serum tumor marker (S) used in testicular cancer staging measured after inguinal orchiectomy or before inguinal orchiectomy?

 

[Brim]

After orchiectomy.

 

[lazers]

After orchiectomy.

thanks

 

[RadRadRad]

I thought it was after surgery for patients who are otherwise stage I and prior to surgery for all other stages.

 

[Gfunk6]

According to NCCN guidelines, the T classification must be defined pathologically whereas the N, S, and M classifications may be defined clinically. Therefore, it is possible to stage a patient prior to radical orchiectomy by using Tx for the T classification and appropriately classifying everything else by imaging and serum markers (this is obviously not possible for cN0M0S0). However, the final stage must include pathology.

 

[Brim]

From the AJCC Staging Manual:

"Serum tumor markers ... should be obtained prior to orchiectomy to complete the status of the serum tumor markers (S). The only exception is for stage grouping classification of Stage IS in which persistent elevation of serum tumor markers following orchiectomy is required."