Recurrences in Surgical Stage I Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumors of the Testis

Abstract

A retrospective analysis of patients with surgical stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis was done to define the pathogenesis of treatment failure. Of 138 patients, 126 (91%) remain free of disease, with a median followup of 5 or more years; 12 (9%) suffered relapse an average of 9 mo. after orchiectomy and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. The majority of recurrences were in the lungs. Of 12 patients who had recurrence, 6 were salvaged and are alive without evidence of disease 3 or more years after the 2nd complete remission. A history of scrotal surgery or scrotal violation, the extent of the primary tumor and the presence of sarcomatous elements in the primary were not statistically significant risk factors in this study. A higher recurrence rate with embryonal carcinoma than with teratocarcinoma was not statistically significant.