[Treatment of patients with stage I non-seminomatous testicular tumors with general orchiectomy].

A group of 24 patients with non-seminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis in clinical stage I were followed in a prospective study in order to evaluate the strategy of "surveillance" consisting of regular check-up and administration of chemotherapy in the case of progression of the disease. 19 out of 24 patients (79.2%) did not require any other treatment than orchiectomy alone during an average observation time of 14.7 (3-27) months. Progression of the disease was found in 5 patients (20.8%) after an average period of 6.6 (2-10) months. Metastasizing into the retroperitoneal lymph nodes was the most frequent finding (4/5 patients); one patient had elevated levels of HCG and AFP. These 5 patients with active disease were treated by chemotherapy including a combination of cis-platin, vinblastine and bleomycin. Three patients are in complete remission, one continues to receive chemotherapy and one died following an acute complication of the cytostatic treatment. The strategy of "surveillance" requires further prospective studies to allow the recognition of risk factors for progression of the disease.