The lump typically is pea-sized, but sometimes it might be as big as a marble or even an egg. These symptoms can be caused by conditions other than cancer. But only a doctor can tell for sure, and it is critical to seek attention promptly. Physicians have various methods to help diagnose testicular cancer. Often a physical exam can rule out disorders other than cancer.
Imaging techniques can help indicate possible tumors.
One such method is ultrasound, which creates a picture from echoes of high-frequency sound waves bounced off internal organs. But the only positive way to identify a tumor is for a pathologist to examine a tissue sample under a microscope. Doctors obtain the tissue by removing the entire affected testicle through the groin, a procedure called inguinal orchiectomy. Surgeons do not cut through the scrotum or remove just a part of the testicle, because if cancer is present, a cut through the outer layer of the testicle may cause the disease to spread locally. Besides enabling diagnosis, testicle removal also can prevent further growth of the primary tumor.