Analysis of pattern of recurrence in non-seminomatous testicular tumor.

In non-seminomatous testicular tumor, 60% of failures are seen within the first three months after diagnosis. The most common site of metastasis is the lung. Occasionally, bone, liver and brain metastases are seen. In this series of 33 cases, the definitively treated Stage I patients are alive and well for an average of 6.3 years (12 patients); one was lost to follow-up. The 20 more advanced patients have not done well--16 are dead from disease with an average survival of 17 months, 3 are alive with disease for an average of two years, and one was lost to follow-up. In Stages II and III, the best results were obtained with an aggressive multimodality approach of surgery, postoperative irradiation and chemotherapy.