[The treatment of stage I malignant non-seminoma tumors of the testis without systematic lumbo-aortic dissection. Results of a study begun 20 years ago. Apropos of 21 cases].

Over a 20-year period (1971-1991), the authors have treated 75 malignant testicular tumours, corresponding to 33 seminomas and 42 nonseminomatous tumours. The latter group included 23 stage I tumours according to Peckham's classification. The authors studied the therapeutic modalities of 21 of these patgients (2 non-protocol patients excluded) treated without lumboaortic lymph node dissection. Adjuvant therapy consisted of radiotherapy alone (2 cases), radiotherapy and chemotherapy (5 cases) and chemotherapy alone (14 cases). All patients are alive in complete remission (100%) with a follow-up of at least 24 months (range: 31-222 months, mean survival: 102.2 months). In line with what they already believed in 1971, the authors consider that systematic lumboaortic lymph node dissection is not essential in the treatment of stage I nonseminomatous testicular tumours, but propose systematic adjuvant therapy. Chemotherapy (PVB or, preferably, PEB) provides a guarantee of security and good acceptability.