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Prevalence of a History of Testicular Cancer in a Cohort of Elderly Twins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

M. M. Braun*
Affiliation:
Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, MD, USA
N. E. Caporaso
Affiliation:
Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, MD, USA
W. F. Page
Affiliation:
Medical Follow-up Agency Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C., USA
R. N. Hoover
Affiliation:
Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, MD, USA
*
FDA-HFM-210, 1401 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-1448, USA

Abstract

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Prior studies have suggested that the risk of testicular cancer among dizygotic twins may exceed that among monozygotic twins or the general population. Cryptorchidism is associated with testicular cancer and twinship, and therefore might potentially explain the findings of the prior studies. In 1993-1994, when they were 66 to 77 years of age, 14,326 twin individuals in the National Academy of Sciencies-National Research Council Twin Registry were interviewed by telephone. A history of testicular cancer was reported by 5 (0.08%) of 5951 monozygotic twins and 11 (0.16%) of 6992 dizygotic twins. Follow-up interviews concerning testicular cancer risk factors and treatment were able to be administered to 4 of the monozygotic and 9 of the dizygotic twins reporting testicular cancer. A history of cryptorchidism was reported in the follow-up interview by only one dizygotic twin. Our data agree with the results of prior studies reporting a more frequent occurrence of testicular cancer among dizygotic than monozygotic twins. Although somewhat limited by small numbers, our study also suggests that the findings of increased testicular cancer in dizygotic twins are not explained simply by increased occurrence of cryptorchidism in twins.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1995

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