[Testicular Cancer Screening in Men Aged 16 Years and Older: IQWiG ThemenCheck Health Technology Assessment Report on Medical, Economic, Social, Ethical, Legal and Organisational Aspects].

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Testicular cancer occurs mainly in young men between 25 and 45 years and is the most common cancer at this age. Possible testicular cancer early detection measures, clinical palpation and scrotal ultrasound (CUS) or testicular self-examination (TSE) in asymptomatic men aged 16 years and older, could perhaps avoid deaths and aggressive late therapies. Therefore, we investigated whether these measures have an additional benefit compared to the current situation. Ethical, legal, social and organisational aspects were considered as well.

METHODS:

The methodology of this review follows IQWiG's "Allgemeine[n] Methoden Version 5.0". In addition, to estimate the theoretically possible benefits and potential harms of screening, a supplementary presentation was used for the benefit assessment based on published data from tumour registries and data on predictive values from diagnostic studies.

RESULTS:

No intervention studies were identified, therefore evidence-based statements on additional benefit or harm of the studied interventions could not be made. The epidemiological data showed that per 100,000 men participating in screening annually, a maximum of 1.2 advanced tumours and 0.4 deaths would have been preventable. Harm calculations suggest that with CUS of 100,000 men, 1 to 22 unnecessary testicular exposures or removals might be expected, with TSE it would be 2 cases. However, these data on the possible harm of screening are subject to great uncertainty.

CONCLUSIONS:

There are no intervention studies demonstrating that the benefit of testicular cancer screening in men aged 16 years and older outweighs the harm. The maximum possible additional benefit is low and chances of detection and cure are good even without screening. At present, testicular cancer screening cannot be recommended.

• Authors: Petra Schnell-Inderst, Anja Laschkolnig, Georg Marckmann, Daniela Antony, Uwe Siebert, Nikolai Mühlberger
• Journal: Gesundheitswesen (Bundesverband der Arzte des Offentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes (Germany)) (Gesundheitswesen) Vol. 85 Issue 4 Pg. 234-241 (Apr 2023) ISSN: 1439-4421 [Electronic] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Hodenkrebsscreening bei Männern ab 16 Jahren: IQWiG ThemenCheck Health Technology Assessment-Bericht zu medizinischen, ökonomischen, sozialen, ethischen, rechtlichen und organisatorischen Aspekten.
• PMID: 34872119 (Publication Type: Review, English Abstract, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Thieme. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Male
• Humans
• Testicular Neoplasms (diagnosis)
• Early Detection of Cancer
• Technology Assessment, Biomedical
• Germany