Testicular cancer is rare, accounting for only 0.4% of all incident cancers and <0.1% of all cancer deaths in males worldwide.[11]Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, et al. Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021 May;71(3):209-249.
https://www.doi.org/10.3322/caac.21660
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33538338?tool=bestpractice.com
However, among men ages 15 to 44 years, these tumors are the most common cancer diagnosed.[12]Znaor A, Skakkebaek NE, Rajpert-De Meyts E, et al. Global patterns in testicular cancer incidence and mortality in 2020. Int J Cancer. 2022 Sep 1;151(5):692-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35277970?tool=bestpractice.com
In the US, incidence peaks at 20 to 34 years of age (around 50% of cases); the median age at diagnosis is 33 years.[13]National Cancer Institute. Cancer stat facts: testicular cancer. 2024 [internet publication].
https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/testis.html
It is estimated that there were 9760 new cases of testis cancer and 500 men died of this disease in 2024 in the US.[13]National Cancer Institute. Cancer stat facts: testicular cancer. 2024 [internet publication].
https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/testis.html
Over the past 40 years, there has been an age-dependent increase in the incidence of this disease in the US, particularly for seminomas.[13]National Cancer Institute. Cancer stat facts: testicular cancer. 2024 [internet publication].
https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/testis.html
[14]Gurney JK, Florio AA, Znaor A, et al. International trends in the incidence of testicular cancer: lessons from 35 years and 41 countries. Eur Urol. 2019 Nov;76(5):615-23.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31324498?tool=bestpractice.com
The increasing incidence rate of testicular cancer suggests a contribution from environmental and lifestyle factors, including socioeconomic indices, alcohol use, physical inactivity, and obesity.[15]Huang J, Chan SC, Tin MS, et al. Worldwide distribution, risk factors, and temporal trends of testicular cancer incidence and mortality: a global analysis. Eur Urol Oncol. 2022 Oct;5(5):566-76.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35863988?tool=bestpractice.com
White men have, the highest incidence compared with men of African and Asian descent. In the US, testicular cancer incidence in white men is four times that in black men.[16]DeSantis CE, Miller KD, Goding Sauer A, et al. Cancer statistics for African Americans, 2019. CA Cancer J Clin. 2019 May;69(3):211-33.
https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3322/caac.21555
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30762872?tool=bestpractice.com
However, incidence rates for different ethnic groups can differ markedly within the same country, even when these ethnic groups share many demographic and environmental characteristics.[14]Gurney JK, Florio AA, Znaor A, et al. International trends in the incidence of testicular cancer: lessons from 35 years and 41 countries. Eur Urol. 2019 Nov;76(5):615-23.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31324498?tool=bestpractice.com
Incidence rates vary worldwide and are highest in Northern European countries and lowest in Asian and African countries.[12]Znaor A, Skakkebaek NE, Rajpert-De Meyts E, et al. Global patterns in testicular cancer incidence and mortality in 2020. Int J Cancer. 2022 Sep 1;151(5):692-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35277970?tool=bestpractice.com
In one European study, the average annual testicular cancer rate was 7.32 per 100,000 men.[17]Schaffar R, Pant S, Bouchardy C, et al. Testicular cancer in Geneva, Switzerland, 1970-2012: incidence trends, survival and risk of second cancer. BMC Urol. 2019 Jul 10;19(1):64.
https://bmcurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12894-019-0494-0
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31291913?tool=bestpractice.com