Secondary acute monocytic leukemia occurring during the treatment of a testicular germ cell tumor. A case report and review of the literature

Urol Int. 1997;58(4):239-42. doi: 10.1159/000282992.

Abstract

Secondary leukemia following chemotherapy or radiotherapy for mediastinal germ cell tumors is a well-described entity. It also may occur in patients with testicular germ cell tumors. We report a case of acute monocytic leukemia occurring in a 44-year-old man who received etoposide-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy for a recurrent, metastatic testicular germ cell tumor. The patient received 14 cycles of systemic chemotherapy for pulmonary and para-aortic lymph node metastases following his initial orchiectomy. The total amount of etoposide this patient received was 6,400 mg/m2. Leukemia occurred 11 years after orchiectomy. A literature review revealed 25 other reported cases of secondary leukemias after treatment for testicular carcinoma. It is not clear whether chemotherapy, radiotherapy or both are responsible for the secondary leukemias seen in these patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Germinoma / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute / etiology*
  • Male
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary*
  • Orchiectomy
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Testicular Neoplasms / therapy*