[Biopsy of retroperitoneal lymph nodes and lymph node dissection in cases of seminoma].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
SEARCH · PubMed Health
Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Current clinical staging, which includes the use of serum tumor markers and imaging techniques, fails to identify the 30-40% of clinical stage I (CS I) nonseminomatous germ cell testicular tumor (NSGCT) patients who have occult metastatic disease. Therefore, there is a real clinical need to evaluate new biological parameters of the primary tumor that might be useful as predictors of occult metastatic disease. This study was undertaken to compare quantitative DNA measurements by flow cytometry and image analysis in CS I NSGCT, and to analyze the relevance of these parameters for predicting occult lymph node involvement. Different blocks of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded NSGCTs of 62 CS I patients who underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection between 1985 and 1989 were prepared according to the Hedley technique, and analyzed by quantitative cytometry. Thirty-six (58.1%) patients had histologically proven lymph node involvement (pathological stage II), whereas 26 (41.9%) patients (pathological stage I) had neither lymph node metastases according to retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) specimens nor tumor recurrence during follow-up. Concordant results were found in 76.5% of the samples by both cytometric techniques. For flow cytometry, the percentages of aneuploid cells in the S- and the G2M + S-phase were the most robust predictive parameters for lymph node involvement, whereas for image analysis the 5c exceeding rate (5cER) had the most predictive significance. Based on the experience obtained in this study, both cytometric techniques provide additional information on tumor aggressiveness that might be useful in therapeutic selection of early stage NSGCT patients for either RPLND or surveillance only.
There were 60 patients at our cancer center who underwent serum tumor marker studies (beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropins and alpha-fetoprotein) and pedal lymphangiography before retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Surgical stage II cases were divided according to tumor, node and metastasis staging. Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin and/or alpha-fetoprotein was elevated in 9 per cent (1 of 11) and the N1 cases, 36 per cent (5 of 14) of the N2A cases, 50 per cent (13 of 26) of the N2B cases and 89 per cent (8 of 9) of the N3 cases. Lymphangiography was positive or suspicious in 9 per cent (1 of 11) of the N1 cases, 36 per cent (5 of 14) of the N2A cases, 46 per cent (12 of 26) of the N2B cases and 56 per cent (5 of 9) of the N3 cases. Serum tumor markers and lymphangiography combined suggested lymph node metastases in 18 per cent (2 of 11) of the N1 cases, 50 per cent (7 of 14) of the N2A cases, 73 per cent (19 of 26) of the N2B cases and 100 per cent (9 of 9) of the N3 cases. We conclude that tumor markers and lymphangiography measurements are equally effective in the diagnosis of retroperitoneal lymph node metastases and that diagnostic accuracy is enhanced significantly by combining these 2 modalities. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection remains the most reliable staging procedure. Reports of the accuracy of clinical staging should be correlated with subcategories of stage II disease.
We examined the impact of testis cancer and its curative therapies on the outlook of life, working activity, partner relationship and sexual function in 31 consecutive patients 18 to 51 years old (mean age 29.3 years, median 28 years) who already had undergone orchiectomy. Of the patients 13 subsequently were treated with chemotherapy alone, 6 with retroperitoneal lymph node dissection alone, and 7 with chemotherapy and an operation, while 5 seminoma patients were treated with radiotherapy. The patients were examined 3, 6 and 18 months after orchiectomy. Each patient was required to fill out a questionnaire to gather information relative to their work activities, emotional relationship with the partner and sexual life. The patients also completed an assessment form on the quality of life (Spitzer QL-Index) and a series of horizontal analogues to evaluate anxiety, mood, nausea, weakness and general health status. The statistical analysis of the linear and quadratic components for the variables under study was done with the general linear model for block design. Psychosocial adaptability of these patients, regardless of the treatment they underwent, in time became progressively less problematic and the development of psychosocial problems during the long-term adjustment was low. Only 2 patients reported worsening of the emotional relationship with the partner after treatment: 1 underwent chemotherapy and an operation, and 1 underwent radiotherapy. With regard to sexual life, no serious dysfunction was noted apart from the loss of ejaculation in 11 of 13 patients who underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Of our sample patients who had lost ejaculation only 2 suffered from a high state of anxiety. The anxiety scores on the last completed linear analogue were 2.6 and 4.1, whereas at the same time the mood scores were 1.9 and 4.4. Therefore, it is important for the clinician to assess the psychogenic aspect of this side effect when this type of operation is proposed.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognosis and therapeutic modalities of stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumours of the testis (NSGT) with an embryonic carcinomatous component (EC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 18 patients with stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumour of the testis with an embryonic carcinomatous component were treated between 1987 and 1995. EC represented more than 50% of the testicular tumour mass in 15 cases. This tumour contingent constituted the only potential prognostic factor in 4 cases, but vascular or lymphatic emboli (n = 3), tumour stage > pT1 (n = 5) or absence of endodermal sinus component (n = 9) were observed in 14 cases. The first 3 patients underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and the following 15 patients were submitted to surveillance (n = 4) or chemotherapy (n = 11) according to the PVB [Cisplatin, Vinblastine, Bleomycin] (n = 7) or BOE [bleomycin, Etoposide, Cisplatin] (n = 4) protocols. RESULTS: With a follow-up of 10 to 110 months (mean: 46), the survival rate is 100% and the recurrence rate is 22%. None of the patients with a local stage exceeding pT1 relapsed after chemotherapy. 2 patients in whom the EC contingent represented less than 50% of the tumour mass and who were simply watched, did not relapse. 4 relapses, detected 3 to 14 months after orchidectomy (mean: 8.5), during surveillance (n = 2) or after chemotherapy (n = 2), required surgical resection or complementary chemotherapy. They occurred in patients in whom EC represented more than 50% of the testicular lesion. The tumour of initially conservatively managed patients did not contain an endodermal sinus component (n = 2) or presented vascular emboli (n = 1). The subjects treated by chemotherapy were characterized by the presence of emboli (n = 1) or the absence of endodermal sinus component (n = 1). The course after recurrence was favourable in 3 cases and the last patient is currently receiving chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: EC is an independent risk factor whose presence justifies proposal of complementary treatment by retroperitoneal lymph node dissection or chemotherapy, possibly limited to 2 courses of BOE. Surveillance can only be considered in the case of a minority of EC in the tumour, in the absence of any associated risk factors.
A rare complication of retroperitoneal surgery is damage to lymphatic vessels, leak of chyle and the development of chylous ascites. This complication can be life threatening and has a relatively high mortality rate. We describe a 38-year-old patient with a massive chylous ascites after extensive retroperitoneal lymph node dissection of metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell testicular tumor. The patient was treated surgically and with fat-free diet, medium chain triglycerides and diuretics resulting in complete resolution of the ascites.
Thirty-four patients with stage 1 or stage 2A testicular tumor all survived 5 years after the treatment, whereas eighteen patients with stage 2B or 3 testicular tumor, including only nonseminomatous tumor, had a 5-year survival rate of less than 50%. Spermatogenesis returned to normal in 3 patients surviving 22 months after chemotherapy. Five patients who had undergone retroperitoneal lymph node dissection with division of the inferior mesenteric artery developed impaired ejaculation, whereas 3 patients who had undergone the operation without division of the inferior mesenteric artery had normal ejaculation. In 17 patients with right testicular tumor metastases were found in the para-aortic, paracaval and interaortocaval lymph nodes. On the other hand, in 4 patients with left testicular tumor metastases were limited to the para-aortic nodes. These results indicate that impaired spermatogenesis by conventional chemotherapy is reversible in patients with stage 1 or 2 testicular tumor, and patients with stage 1 tumor or stage 2 tumor with localized para-aortic metastases, not involving the inferior mesenteric artery, should undergo retroperitoneal lymph node dissection without division of the inferior mesenteric artery to preserve postoperative fertility.
The gonadal functions were studied in 54 patients with disseminated nonseminomatous testicular tumors who had been subjected to combination chemotherapy (cisplatin, vinblastine, and bleomycin [PVB]) and surgery (hemiorchiectomy, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection or removal of retroperitoneal residual tumor after chemotherapy) and in 17 patients with a stage I tumor subjected to hemiorchiectomy exclusively. In the patients treated with chemotherapy, the plasma testosterone levels remained at the lower limit of normal and the luteinizing hormone (LH) levels remained elevated for 2 years after completion of treatment. The follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels also remained significantly elevated, but showed a tendency to decrease after 2 years. Semen analysis was performed in 25 patients; of the other patients, 18 had no antegrade ejaculation, eight had undergone a vasectomy and three patients did not cooperate. Before treatment, 72% of the patients showed azoo- or oligozoospermia; 2 years after discontinuation of the chemotherapy, 48% had azoo- or oligozoospermia while 28% had more than 60 X 10(6) spermatozoa/mL. However, interestingly the proportion of patients with azoospermia had increased from 4% to 28%. In the course of this study, eight pregnancies occurred; one ended in an early spontaneous abortion; the other seven pregnancies ran an uncomplicated course. Seven healthy children were born. In 17 patients with a stage I tumor treated by hemiorchiectomy only, the testosterone, LH and FSH levels were also observed for 2 years; until 2 years after treatment, the testosterone levels remained lower and the FSH levels remained higher than normal. Insufficiency of the Leydig's cells in the unaffected gonad appeared to be responsible for the altered hormone concentrations in the blood.
Surgery following chemotherapy for treatment of metastatic testis cancer is reserved for partial remissions with localized tumors considered resectable. After primary chemotherapy, about 90% will have teratoma or necrosis and only 10% will have cancer. The concept of two cycles of post operative chemotherapy in this small group with cancer is supported by a 70% long term cure rate. A more difficult group of patients are those who have had not only primary but also salvage chemotherapy for refractory tumor. About 55% of these patients undergoing post (salvage) chemotherapy RPLND surgery have persistent cancer in the resected specimen. There is no data to support the routine use of repeat salvage chemotherapy post operatively. Of 91 patients presenting for surgery post salvage chemotherapy, 53 were considered completely resected and 36 incompletely resected. Of the 53 realistic candidates for cure with complete resections, 25 were given post operative repeat salvage chemotherapy and 28 received none. 9 (36%) receiving more chemotherapy remained NED and 12 (43%) receiving none remained NED. 12 in each group died of disease. Therefore, there is no data to support routine repeat salvage chemotherapy in patients considered completely resected who had already received salvage chemotherapy pre-operatively. Rather the outcome in this cohort depends more on the completeness of its resectability.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate morbidity and relapse in patients with advanced testis cancer who underwent a post-chemotherapy resection of a residual mass and a limited retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 62 patients underwent complete resection of retroperitoneal masses after chemotherapy and a limited lymph node dissection if frozen sections of the mass showed necrosis (37 patients) or a bilateral dissection if the frozen section indicated viable germ cell tumour or teratoma (25 patients). RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 6 years, 14 (23%) patients relapsed, but only one within the retroperitoneum (teratoma) after a limited lymphadenectomy. There was a concordance of 89% between the frozen section of the post-chemotherapy mass and the permanent-section histological diagnosis of the entire lymphadenectomy specimen. Of the 37 patients whose masses showed necrosis on frozen section, three had viable germ cell tumour and one had teratoma on final histology. In all four false-negative cases, residual tumour was confined to the resected mass. Six patients (10%) had surgical complications (one after limited and five after bilateral lymph node dissection). CONCLUSION: The surgical resection of all residual masses after chemotherapy, followed by limited retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy if frozen-section analysis shows necrosis, is a safe approach in selected patients with advanced 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.
A patient is presented in whom a lymphocele developed after a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for Stage II embryonal carcinoma of the testicle. The benign nature of this lymphocele has been confirmed not only by the diagnostic procedures outlined, but by its stability over a 42-month follow-up period with no further antitumor therapy. We conclude from reviewing the literature that while aggressive measures are necessary to confirm the diagnosis of a lymphocele, its management should be expectant. If significant obstruction of neighboring structures occurs, an attempt at percutaneous drainage (and possibly sclerosis) seems appropriate despite potential risks of interventional treatment such as hemorrhage and introduction of infection. Open procedures for marsupialization and drainage should be reserved for cases in which more conservative measures fail.
OBJECTIVE: Patients with nonseminomatous germ cell cancer of the testis with no evidence of metastatic disease after orchiectomy may be managed with either retroperitoneal lymph node dissection or surveillance. The present retrospective study was undertaken to determine the accuracy of CT for revealing retroperitoneal lymph node metastases in patients with newly diagnosed clinical stage 1 testicular nonseminomatous germ cell cancer of the testis when smaller size criteria (smaller than 10 mm) are applied and to test the hypothesis that CT-revealed anterior retroperitoneal lymph nodes are more likely to correlate with metastases than are posterior lymph nodes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Abdominal CT scans obtained before surgery in 70 patients were reviewed by three observers who were unaware of the results of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy. The sizes and sites of all lymph nodes measuring larger than or equal to 4 mm were recorded. Each CT scan was judged as positive or negative for retroperitoneal metastasis on the basis of the size of the largest measured lymph node at the expected metastatic site. Diameters of 4, 6, 8, and 10 mm were successively applied to each case as the criteria for a positive scan. RESULTS: Using a criterion of 10 mm or larger for metastases, we calculated a sensitivity of 37% and a specificity of 100%; with a 4-mm criterion, the sensitivity was 93% and the specificity was 58%. Receiver operating characteristic curves comparing the accuracy of CT for revealing similar-sized lymph nodes located anterior or posterior to a line bisecting the aorta differed significantly (p = .04) when the same criteria were applied to lymph nodes in both regions. CONCLUSION: False-negative rates were decreased from 63% using a size criterion of 10 mm to as low as 7% using a size criterion of 4 mm, with a corresponding decrease in specificity. Lymph nodes measuring larger than or equal to 4 mm, especially those located anterior to the mid portion of the aorta, should raise a suspicion of metastases.
This study evaluates the effect of combination chemotherapy on retroperitoneal metastases from nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis (NSGCTT). Sixty-six patients with Stage III or bulky Stage II NSGCTT with clinically documented retroperitoneal metastases first received systemic chemotherapy. Seventeen patients had minimal and 49 had advanced retroperitoneal metastases. The retroperitoneal metastases were classified as advanced if the patient had a palpable retroperitoneal mass, ureteral deviation on intravenous pyelogram, or a mass with a diameter greater than or equal to 5 cm documented by a computerized axial tomographic scan, a pedal lymphangiogram, or surgery. The patients with lesser but clinically evident retroperitoneal metastatic deposits were considered to have minimal retroperitoneal metastases. A complete remission of retroperitoneal metastatic deposits was achieved in 50 (76%) patients, with chemotherapy alone in 25 (38%), and with combined chemotherapy and surgery in 25 (38%). The resected deposits consisted of mature teratoma in 15 and malignant elements in 10. A complete remission using chemotherapy alone occurred in 13 of 17 (76%) with minimal and in 12/49 (24%) with advanced retroperitoneal metastases, and in 17/30 (57%) without and 8/36 (22%) with teratoma in the testis tumor. The data strongly implied that the bulk of the metastatic deposits was a more important prognostic variable than the histology of the primary tumor. The adverse relationship of a teratomatous differentiation on the response rates with chemotherapy alone was offset by the success of supplemental surgery. This study suggests the benefit of a postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) in patients with initially bulky retroperitoneal metastases (complete response [CR] increased from 24% to 67%; an additional 47% patients had no evidence of disease). The patients with minimal retroperitoneal metastases usually achieved a CR with chemotherapy alone. A routine RPLND after the chemotherapy is not indicated in patients with initially minimal retroperitoneal metastases.
The clinical course of 186 orchiectomized patients with testicular non-seminoma clinical stage I (CSI) was reviewed together with a reevaluation of the haematoxylin-eosin-stained histological sections of the primary tumour. Treatment (1970-1980) was as follows: abdominal radiotherapy (group 1): 132 patients; observation only (group 2): 23 patients; retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (group 3): 31 patients. Failure of the management (diagnostic error/relapse after treatment) was defined as demonstration of retroperitoneal lymph node metastases (group 3) or relapse during follow-up (group 2 and 3). Ten of the 31 primarily operated patients had retroperitoneal lymph node metastases. (These patients received 3-4 cycles adjuvant cisplatin based on chemotherapy.) Forty-six patients relapsed after a median time of 6 months (range: 2-113). The 10-year cancer-related survival rates for group 1 and 2 were 85 and 73%, respectively. No cancer-related death occurred in group 3 within the first 5 years. In a univariate analysis the following parameters were significantly (p less than 0.05) correlated with management failure: vascular invasion (blood, lymphatic), the presence of syncytiotrophoblasts, the demonstration of the histological subtype MTU. In a multivariate analysis both lymphatic and blood vessel invasion significantly predicted management failure. In 80% of the non-seminoma patients with CSI and both lymphatic and blood vessels invasion in the primary tumour failure of the primary management must be expected. In the multivariate analysis the demonstration of MTU was a predictive factor only if no differentiation was made between lymphatic and blood vessel invasion. The presence or absence of endodermal sinus tumour was not correlated with the failure rate in non-seminoma CSI. Based on easily assessable histopathological parameters of the primary tumour (small vessel invasion in particular) it is possible to define subgroups of patients with non-seminoma CSI who have a high or a low risk of relapse or who are likely to have microscopic retroperitoneal lymph node metastases. Such a differentiation should have therapeutic consequences.
UNLABELLED: Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) was used in 121 Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study (IRS) III patients with nonmetastatic paratesticular (PT) rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) to assess retroperitoneal lymph node (RPLN) involvement so as to determine the need for x-ray therapy (XRT). Clinical node evaluation (CNE) was accomplished by a computed tomography (CT) scan in 105 and a sonogram in six. Pathological node evaluation (PNE) was performed in 113: lymphadenectomy (9 bilateral, 85 unilateral) and biopsy in 19. Vincristine and actinomycin D were used for 1 year postoperatively in 89%; all patients who had positive PNE received RPLN XRT. This study compares CNE with PNE and evaluates predictors of relapse and survival. FINDINGS: There were clinically negative nodes (cN0) in 81% of the 121 patients. Among cN0 patients, 14% had positive nodes (pN1). Of the clinically positive (cN1) patients, 94% had pN1. RPLN relapse occurred in only two of the 121 patients. Initially both had cN0 and one had PNE that was negative. For all 121 patients, the 5-year survival was 91%. For cN0 patients, the 5-year survival was 96% compared with 69% for cN1 patients (P < .001). Among the children in whom treatment failed, nodes were cN1 in 5 of 11 (45%) compared with 15 of 107 (14%) in those whose treatment did not fail (P < .008). CONCLUSIONS: (1) Results of RPLN imaging studies were negative in 81% of patients with PT RMS (specificity 99%, sensitivity 57%). (2) RPLN recurrence is uncommon (even when RPLN are initially involved) if regional XRT and appropriate chemotherapy are used.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A total of 85 patients underwent modified retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy for clinical stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumor of the testis from 1982 to 1989. The technique was a modified bilateral dissection via a thoracoabdominal approach. A full bilateral dissection was done above the level of the inferior mesenteric artery but unilateral dissection was performed below the inferior mesenteric artery using a template method. Of the 85 patients 64 had pathological stage A and 21 had stage B1 disease. Relapses have occurred in 4 of 64 stage A cancer patients (6%) and 3 of 21 stage B1 cancer patients (15%). Antegrade ejaculation was preserved without pharmacological therapy in 75 of 85 patients (88%) and 5 others were converted to antegrade ejaculation with imipramine. Therefore, 80 of 85 patients (94%) have recovered antegrade ejaculation. With a median followup of 38 months 7 relapses have been noted. We conclude that modified retroperitoneal lymph node dissection allows for preservation of ejaculation, decreases concern about retroperitoneal understaging and represents the preferred alternative to surveillance protocols for patients with low stage testicular cancer.
Testicular tumors in patients who have had the lymphatics disrupted by prior scrotal or inguinal surgery can metastasize primarily to the ipsilateral inguinal nodes in addition to the usual retroperitoneal pattern. Whether routine inguinal node dissection along with retroperitoneal node dissection is warranted in patients with testicular tumors and prior scrotal surgery is controversial due to the small numbers of such cases reported in the literature. We report on 2 patients who had undergone previous orchiopexy and who presented with inguinal and testicular masses. Both patients underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and inguinal node dissection with hemiscrotectomy and metastatic tumor was in each lymphatic area. Ipsilateral inguinal along with bilateral retroperitoneal node dissection should be considered in the primary therapy of any patient with a nonseminomatous testicular tumor who has had prior scrotal and certain inguinal procedures.