Morphology & Grade

ICD-O-3 Morphology Codes

If the diagnostic term in the pathology report is not in the list below, be sure to consult your ICD-O-3 manual.

60% of testicular cancers will show a single cell type; the remainder will show mixed cell types.

Germ cell tumors (germinoma, 90643; germ cell tumor, nonseminomatous, 90653)

  • Seminoma (90613, 90623, 90663; most common 40-50%; slow to spread; more likely to occur in older patients; highly radiosensitive; good prognosis)
  • Non-Seminoma (teratoma and embryonal carcinoma comprise 50% of all testicular cancers)
    • Teratoma (90803, 90823, 90833)
    • Malignant trophoblastic teratoma (91023)
    • Embryonal carcinoma (90703; also called embryonal cell carcinoma—poorer prognosis)
    • Teratocarcinoma (90813; a combination of teratoma and embryonal carcinoma; may metastasize as embryonal or teratocarcinoma)
    • Yolk sac tumor (90713; also called endodermal sinus tumor, infantile embryonal carcinoma; common under the age of 15)
    • Choriocarcinoma (91003; rare < 0.5%; aggressive; metastasize only as choriocarcinomas)
    • Choriocarcinoma with other germ cell elements (91013)

    Note: seminoma mixed with non-seminoma should be considered non-seminoma for treatment decisions.

  • Others
    Less than 5% of testicular cancers (not included in testicular staging)
  • Non-germinal tumors
    Arise from testicular mesodermal tissue; rare as malignancies
    • Leydig cell tumor (86503)
    • Sertoli cell tumor (86403)
  • Lymphoma
    Most common in men over 60 years old
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma (rare)
  • Melanoma