Surgical treatment of stage-I non-seminomatous germ cell testis tumor. Final results of a prospective multicenter trial 1982-1987. Testicular Tumor Study Group.

Final results of a prospective multicenter trial are presented comparing modified (ipsilateral) and radical retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RLND) with regard to staging accuracy, curativity, and preserved ejaculation in stage-I non-seminomatous testis tumor. In 168 patients after modified and 67 patients after radical RLND, no differences were found in relapse rates (17 and 15%, respectively; median follow-up 30 months); in frequency of retroperitoneal relapse (2.4 and 1.5%, respectively), and intra-/postoperative complications (12 and 10%, respectively). Postoperative ejaculation was antegrade in 74 and 34%, (p less than 0.001), retrograde in 11 and 12% respectively. Normozoospermia was found in 50% of patients postoperatively vs. 20% preoperatively. Results are discussed in view of other alternatives. Modified RLND is considered an optimal approach to stage-I non-seminomatous germ cell testis tumor, outside specific trials.