Tests for Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is usually found because of symptoms that a person is having. It can also be found when tests are done for another condition. The next step is an exam by a doctor.

Physical exam

The doctor will feel the testicles for swelling or tenderness and for the size and location of any lumps. The doctor will also examine your belly (abdomen), lymph nodes, and other parts of your body carefully to look for signs that the cancer has spread. Often, the results of the exam are normal besides the changes in the testicles. If a lump or another sign of testicular cancer is found, testing will be needed to look for the cause.

Imaging tests

Imaging tests are used to create pictures of the inside of the body. Imaging tests can be done for several reasons, including:

  • To help find out if a suspicious area might be cancer
  • To learn how far cancer has spread
  • To help determine if treatment is working

Blood tests for tumor markers

Some blood tests can help diagnose testicular tumors. Many testicular cancers make high levels of certain proteins called tumor markers. Tumor marker tests can also be used to help estimate how much cancer is present (see Stages of Testicular Cancer), to see how well treatment is working, or to look for signs the cancer might have come back.

Surgery to diagnose testicular cancer

A biopsy, which is the removal of a small piece of the tumor, is rarely done for a testicular tumor. If there is high concern that a person has testicular cancer based on the imaging and blood tests, the doctor will very likely recommend surgery (a radical inguinal orchiectomy) to remove the testicle presumably containing the tumor as soon as possible.

The entire testicle is sent to the lab, where a pathologist (a doctor specializing in laboratory diagnosis of diseases) looks at pieces of the tumor with a microscope. If cancer cells are found, the pathologist sends back a report describing the type and extent of the cancer.

If testicular cancer is found, your doctor will order imaging tests of other parts of your body to check for cancer that has spread outside the testicle. These tests may also be done before the diagnosis is confirmed by surgery.

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Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Last Revised: August 10, 2025

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