Low-Dose CT - Stage I Testicular Cancer

Phase II Study of Effectiveness of Using Low-dose CT in Patient Undergoing Surveillance for Clinical Stage I Testicular Cancer

Patients with primary germ cell cancer of the testicles confined to the testis can avoid adjuvant treatment by entering a surveillance protocol. In the surveillance protocol, patients are followed for up to ten years with serial computed tomography scans to detect recurrence. Multiple CT scans expose patients to a significant amount of radiation, which may be associated with an increased risk of secondary malignancies. This study hypothesizes that low dose CT scans are as effective as standard dose CT scans in detecting disease recurrence in this setting and will significantly reduce radiation exposure in this group of patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Phase A:
• Newly diagnosed testicular germ cell testicular cancer (GCT) with no clinical or tumour marker evidence of metastases
• Stage I disease according to UICC stage groupings and currently on surveillance (in Year 1 of non-seminoma surveillance or year 1 or 2 of seminoma surveillance)
• ECOG performance status 0 or 1
• Phase B:
• Stage I disease according to UICC stage Groupings
• Initial Low dose CT considered by study radiologist to be of sufficient quality to allow surveillance using LDCT protocol

Exclusion Criteria:

• any medical conditions that render the patient ineligible to undergo the protocol or procedure