What does this research mean for the field?

Early-onset testicular germ cell tumors diagnosed during the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2022–2023 exhibited a shift toward more advanced stages at presentation, with diagnoses in 2022–2023 being associated with higher testicular cancer-specific mortality. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate temporal shifts in disease stage presentation and survival outcomes among young and middle-aged patients diagnosed with testicular germ cell tumors across pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods.

August 23, 2026SurgeriesOpen Access

Pandemic-Era Stage Migration, Registry-Recorded Primary-Site Surgery, and Survival in Early-Onset Testicular Germ Cell Tumors: A SEER Population-Based Study

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

SÜSıtkı ÜnPamukkale University YAYasemin AdalıQueen's University Belfast OCOmer Emin CinarRecep Tayyip Erdoğan University

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Retrospective cohort study reveals increased advanced-stage diagnosis and mortality in early-onset testicular cancer during the pandemic era, indicating downstream impacts on care.

Key Points

To evaluate temporal shifts in disease stage presentation and survival outcomes among young and middle-aged patients diagnosed with testicular germ cell tumors across pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods.
Retrospective cohort study using the SEER 17 database including N=13,303 male patients aged 15–49 diagnosed with malignant testicular germ cell tumors from 2018 through 2023.
Assessed odds of regional or distant-stage presentation using multivariable logistic regression across 2018–2019, 2020–2021, and 2022–2023 diagnosis periods.
Evaluated overall survival with Cox proportional hazards regression and testicular cancer-specific mortality using Fine–Gray competing-risk regression and Aalen–Johansen estimates.
Regional or distant-stage disease increased from 31.2% pre-pandemic to 33.5% in 2020–2021 (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02–1.22) and 34.4% in 2022–2023 (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.06–1.28).
Patients diagnosed in 2022–2023 had higher all-cause mortality (HR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.01–1.65) and higher testicular cancer-specific death in cause-specific Cox (HR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.12–2.00) and Fine–Gray models (sHR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.09–1.93).
In 12-month restricted sensitivity analyses, testicular cancer-specific death remained elevated for 2022–2023 diagnoses in the Fine–Gray model (sHR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.03–2.07).

Cite This Study

Ün et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8aada77677a34114445eac https://doi.org/10.3390/surgeries7030097

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Implication

Retrospective cohort study reveals increased advanced-stage diagnosis and mortality in early-onset testicular cancer during the pandemic era, indicating downstream impacts on care.

Pandemic-Era Stage Migration, Registry-Recorded Primary-Site Surgery, and Survival in Early-Onset Testicular Germ Cell Tumors: A SEER Population-Based Study

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Pandemic-Era Stage Migration, Registry-Recorded Primary-Site Surgery, and Survival in Early-Onset Testicular Germ Cell Tumors: A SEER Population-Based Study

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider