Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in patients with low stage testicular cancer with embryonal carcinoma predominance and/or lymphovascular invasion

Abstract

Purpose: The outcome after primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) was analyzed in patients with clinical stage I-IIA nonseminomatous germ cell testicular cancer with embryonal carcinoma predominance (ECP) or lymphovascular invasion (LVI).

Materials and methods: Between 1989 and 2002, 267 patients with clinical stage I-IIA nonseminomatous germ cell testicular cancer, and ECP and/or LVI underwent RPLND. Patient information was obtained from a prospective database. Median followup was 53 months.

Results: Overall 42% of patients had pathological stage (PS) II disease, of whom 54% had low volume (PN1) disease and 16% had retroperitoneal teratoma. The 5-year progression-free probability was 90% overall, 90% for PS I and 86% for PN1. All patients with relapse were continuously free of disease following standard chemotherapy with or without resection of residual masses and the 10-year actuarial overall survival was 100%. When adjuvant chemotherapy was restricted to patients with PN2 disease, the estimated 5-year relapse rate was 9% and an estimated 72% of patients avoided chemotherapy.

Conclusions: The low risk of systemic relapse in patients with PS I and PN1 after RPLND alone combined with the 16% incidence of retroperitoneal teratoma and the favorable morbidity profile supports RPLND over primary chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with low stage disease with ECP and/or LVI who are not candidates for surveillance. An estimated 72% of patients are spared the potential toxicity of chemotherapy if adjuvant therapy is restricted to patients with PN2. After primary RPLND and selective adjuvant chemotherapy late recurrence is distinctly uncommon and long-term cancer control is anticipated in essentially all patients.