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. 2024 Jan;211(1):80-89.
doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000003697. Epub 2023 Sep 6.

Primary Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection for Seminoma Metastatic to the Retroperitoneum

Richard S Matulewicz  1   2 , Nicole Benfante  1 , Samuel A Funt  3   4 , Darren R Feldman  3   4 , Brett Carver  1   2 , Alexander Doudt  1 , Andrea Knezevic  5 , Joel Sheinfeld  1   2
Affiliations

Primary Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection for Seminoma Metastatic to the Retroperitoneum

Richard S Matulewicz et al. J Urol. 2024 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: Primary surgical treatment with retroperitoneal lymph node dissection aims to accurately stage and treat patients with node-positive pure seminoma while avoiding long-term risks of chemotherapy or radiation, traditional standard-of-care treatments.

Materials and methods: We reported the pathologic and oncologic outcomes of patients with pure seminoma treated with primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in a retrospective, single-institution case series over 10 years. The primary outcome was 2-year recurrence-free survival stratified by adjuvant management strategy (surveillance vs adjuvant chemotherapy).

Results: Forty-five patients treated with primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for pure testicular seminoma metastatic to the retroperitoneum were identified. Median size of largest lymph node before surgery was 1.8 cm. Viable germ cell tumor, all of which was pure seminoma, was found in 96% (n=43) of patients. The median number of positive nodes and nodes removed was 2 and 54, respectively. Median positive pathologic node size was 2 cm (IQR 1.4-2.5 cm, range 0.1-5 cm). Four of 29 patients managed with postoperative surveillance experienced relapse; 2-year recurrence-free survival was 81%. Median follow-up for those managed with surveillance who did not relapse was 18.5 months. There were no relapses in the retroperitoneum, visceral recurrences, or deaths. Among the 16 patients who received adjuvant treatment, 1 patient experienced relapse in the pelvis at 19 months.

Conclusions: Primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for pure seminoma with low-volume metastases to the retroperitoneum is safe and effective, allowing most patients to avoid long-term toxicities from chemotherapy or radiation.

Keywords: germ cell and embryonal; lymph node excision; neoplasms; testicular neoplasms.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A: Relapse-free survival (RFS) for the entire cohort. RFS at 12 and 24 months were 95% (95% CI, 80–99), and 84% (95% CI, 65–93). B: Relapse-free survival (RFS) by post-retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) management strategy. The RFS estimate in the surveillance group at 224 months was 81% (95% CI, 57–93) and was 92% (95% CI, 54–99) in the adjuvant group.
Figure 1
Figure 1
A: Relapse-free survival (RFS) for the entire cohort. RFS at 12 and 24 months were 95% (95% CI, 80–99), and 84% (95% CI, 65–93). B: Relapse-free survival (RFS) by post-retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) management strategy. The RFS estimate in the surveillance group at 224 months was 81% (95% CI, 57–93) and was 92% (95% CI, 54–99) in the adjuvant group.
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Comment in

  • Editorial Comment.
    Fankhauser CD, Tandstad T, Heidenreich A. Fankhauser CD, et al. J Urol. 2024 Jan;211(1):87-88. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000003697.01. Epub 2023 Oct 4. J Urol. 2024. PMID: 37793059 No abstract available.
  • Editorial Comment.
    Passarelli R, Jang TL. Passarelli R, et al. J Urol. 2024 Jan;211(1):88-89. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000003697.02. Epub 2023 Oct 4. J Urol. 2024. PMID: 37793060 No abstract available.

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