The only well recognised predisposing factor is testicular maldescent. There is a history of maldescent in approximately 10% of UK cases of this disease. If either testis fails to descend, then the risk of the disease rises five-fold whereas it is tenfold increased if both fail to descend. Surgical orchidopexy (the correct positioning of the testis down into the scrotum) at an early age protects.
The other factors that predispose a testicle to this disease are a previous history of the disease afflicting the other testis and s positive family history of the disease (father or brother).