Incidence and management of testicular carcinoma metastatic to the neck

Abstract

Purpose: We evaluated the incidence and impact on outcome of neck metastasis in germ cell carcinoma.

Materials and methods: A retrospective, institutional analysis of patients who presented with germ cell neoplasms was performed.

Results: During an 11-year period 7 of 155 patients (4.5%) with testis cancer had neck metastasis. The incidence of neck metastasis strongly correlated with disease stage. Selective neck dissection in 3 patients with post-chemotherapy residual neck masses demonstrated teratomatous elements in 2, with scar and necrosis in 1.

Conclusions: Post-chemotherapy neck masses should be treated by definitive surgery for local disease control and to eliminate the possibility of residual neoplastic or teratomatous elements.