Post-chemotherapy lymph node histology in radiologically normal patients with metastatic nonseminomatous testicular cancer.

A total of 37 patients with initially advanced metastatic nonseminomatous testicular cancer underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection after cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy. Abdominal computerized tomography was negative at retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy (lymph nodes not exceeding 10 mm. in the transverse computerized tomography plane). Complete necrosis and fibrosis were found in 25 patients. In 11 patients the retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy specimen showed a mature teratoma. Residual vital malignant tumor was observed in 1 patient. Neither the initial size of the retroperitoneal mass nor the histological status of the primary tumor was predictive of the histological findings in the retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy specimen. The high frequency of mature teratoma raises the question whether omitting post-chemotherapy surgery is a safe routine policy in patients with negative computerized tomography, especially if long-term followup is not feasible. We recommend a post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal operation as routine treatment even in patients with negative computerized tomography.