[The place of surgery in the treatment of testicular tumors other than seminoma (author's transl)].

Surgery plays an important part in the treatment of non seminomatous testicular tumors. An oncologically correct technique of orchidectomy is the first essential if the better prognosis of these tumors, noted in the past decade, is to be further improved. The testis should be removed through an inguinal approach. Radical retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy is gaining more favour at the present time. This operation, routinely performed in the US. is being performed more frequently in Europe. The justification for this major operation with a definite morbidity is to be found in the better survival rate achieved in patients undergoing surgery as compared to that achieved using other treatment modalities. A description of the operative technique delineates the magnitude of the surgery but also shows that, working methodically the operation is feasible.