Stage I testicular seminoma: para-aortic and iliac irradiation with reduced dose after orchiectomy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Radiotherapy remains the treatment of choice for patients with stage I seminoma. The aim of this study is to report preliminary results of reduced dose radiotherapy to ipsilateral pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between February 1996 and December 2001, 53 patients with stage I testicular seminoma were treated with adjuvant radiotherapy after orchiectomy. The median age was 34 years (19-59 years). Four (7.5%) patients had a history of cryptorchidism. Eleven (20.8%) patients showed elevated beta-human chorionic gonadotropin. All patients had a radical inguinal orchiectomy and histopathological analysis yielded classic seminoma in 47 (88.7%), spermatocytic in 5 (9.4%) and anaplastic in 1 (1.9%) patients. A total of 19.6-20 Gy in 1.8- to 2-Gy daily fractions was administered to the para-aortic and ipsilateral iliac lymphatics.

RESULTS

Median follow-up time was 42 months (12-77 months). One patient developed para-aortic lymph node recurrence at month 28 of the follow-up. Five-year overall and disease-free survivals were 100 and 98%, respectively. Only grade I-II of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group acute gastrointestinal complications without any severe late toxicity was detected.

CONCLUSION

Reduced dose radiotherapy seems to be as effective as higher doses in the management of stage I seminoma with an acceptable toxicity.