Accuracy of Preoperative Staging in Stages A and B Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Testis Tumors

Abstract

Primary radical retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy currently is used for pathologic staging of nonseminomatous germ cell testis tumors unless advanced disease is present initially. Many attempts have been made with serum markers, lymphangiograms, excretory urograms, gallium and ultrasound scans, and computerized tomography for accurate staging of these tumors preoperatively. We reviewed the accuracy of alpha-fetoprotein and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin serum markers, and abdominal ultrasound and computerized tomography scans in preoperatively staging 64 patients with stage A or B nonseminomatous germ cell testis tumors seen at our university between 1977 and 1980. The results of the preoperative staging studies were correlated with the pathologic stages obtained by retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy.