What is the first-line hormonal marker for diagnosing testicular tumors?

Beta-HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is the first-line hormonal marker for diagnosing certain types of testicular tumors, particularly non-seminomatous germ cell tumors like choriocarcinoma and some teratomas. Elevated levels of beta-HCG can indicate the presence of these malignancies, making it a crucial marker in the diagnosis and management of testicular cancer.

In the context of testicular tumors, while other hormones such as testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and prolactin may play roles in the endocrine function of the testes or in the differential diagnoses, they are not as specific or commonly utilized as beta-HCG for identifying malignancies. Specifically, testosterone is more relevant to assess the function of the testes rather than diagnose tumors directly, while luteinizing hormone is involved in regulating testosterone production instead of serving as a tumor marker. Prolactin is not typically associated with testicular cancer diagnosis.

Therefore, the elevation of beta-HCG serves as an important indicator in the clinical setting for diagnosing testicular tumors, assisting in determining the presence and type of tumor, guiding treatment decisions, and monitoring response to therapy.