Advances in the management of non-seminomatous germinal tumours of the testis.

Experience in the management of 146 consecutive patients with non-seminomatous tumours of the testis has led to a plan of management based on retroperitoneal lymph node dissection as the primary treatment modality, with use of adjuvant therapy dependent on pathological findings. Chemotherapy has proved to be the most important adjuvant with postoperative radiation therapy reserved only for patients with extensive retroperitoneal metastatic disease. 3-year crude survival for patients with all stages of disease was 78% and in those in whom the disease was confined to below the diaphragm the survival rate was 85%.