[Treatment of testicular cancer clinical stage I: watchful waiting, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or surgical intervention]

Abstract

Micrometastasis in the retroperitoneal lymph nodes is seen in 20% of patients with a seminoma in clinical stage I and in 30% of patients with a nonseminoma in clinical stage I. It is not possible to detect micrometastases. Nearly all patients recover from the illness irrespective of the treatment choice. This is based on the patient's wish, the doctor's preference, local expertise and risk factors for dissemination. In the case of a seminoma, treatment consists of regular checks ('watchful waiting'), radiotherapy or chemotherapy. In the case of a non-seminoma in clinical stage I without vascular impingement the risk of micrometastases in the retroperitoneal nodes is 15%. Standard treatment consists of watchful waiting. The options 'retroperitoneal lymph node dissection with, in the case of positive nodes, chemotherapy' and 'primary chemotherapy' result in more excessive treatment, but less uncertainty in patients. In the case of a non-seminoma in clinical stage I with vascular impingement, the risk of micrometastases is 50%. Standard treatment in this case consists of watchful waiting or retroperitoneal lymph node dissection with chemotherapy, if necessary, in case of positive lymph nodes. Another option is primary chemotherapy.