ABSTRACT
During the twentieth century, the incidence of testis cancer rose at a dramatic rate in most Western countries. The reason for this is unknown. Denmark, which saw the highest national prevalence, has seen a steady increase from 3 to 9/100 000 person years between 1945 and 1990.1 In six countries around the Baltic Sea, the annual increase between the early post-war period and 1990 varied from 2.3% in Sweden to 5.2% in the former East Germany.2 Notable, then, are populations where the incidence of testis cancer has not increased. These include North American Blacks where the incidence is low (1 per 100 000) and Switzerland where it is high (6 per 100 000).3
