From 1984 to 1989, 89 patients with stage I testicular carcinoma had been treated and followed at the Oncology Unit of the "Santa Creu i Sant Pau" Hospital. The histologic diagnosis was that of seminoma in 53 and nonseminomatous tumor in 36 patients. Treatment considered of inguinal orchidectomy and close clinical surveillance. Eight of the patients that had been diagnosed as having seminoma received adjuvant radiotherapy since follow-up could not be possible. Recurrence was observed in 5 of the 45 (11 por 100) patients with seminoma and 11 of the 36 (31 por 100) with nonseminomatous tumor that could be followed. All recurrences received chemotherapy (cisplatin and etoposide) which achieved complete remission. All of the patients are currently tumor-free after a mean follow-up of 34 months for the patients with seminoma, 39 months for those with nonseminomatous tumor and no recurrence, and 20 months for the nonseminomatous tumors that had recurred. Surveillance following orchidectomy for stage I testicular tumors is a valid approach if the patient can be followed correctly and achieves the same results as other more aggressive therapeutic strategies.