Prognosis for Pathologic Stage I Non-Seminomatous Germ Cell Tumors of the Testis Managed by Retroperitoneal Lymphadenectomy

Abstract

The over-all 3, 5 and 10 yr survival rate for 87 patients with nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis undergoing retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy was 90.5%. Of the 72 patients receiving no form of therapy other than retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy after operative removal of the testicular tumor, the 5 yr survival rate was 90.8%. The 5 yr survival rates for these 72 patients, calculated according to the histologic characteristics of the primary tumor, were 74.4% for 18 patients with embryonal carcinoma, 93.0% for 36 patients with teratocarcinoma and 100% for 18 patients with teratoma. Although no advantage could be demonstrated for bilateral lymphadenectomy as opposed to unilateral dissection, a modified bilateral dissection should be reserved only for tumors on the left side.