CT scanning and the surgery of metastatic teratoma of the testis: a preliminary report.

Accurate definition of metastases in para-aortic lymph nodes and lungs is essential in planning treatment for patients with testicular teratoma. The addition of CT scanning to routine investigation of these patients has given additional sensitivity in detection and localisation of metastases. The extent of para-aortic metastases could be clearly defined, even when bulk replacement of nodes prevented definition by lymphography. This information was used in planning the best surgical approach for para-aortic lymphadenectomy, which was done as part of combined treatment of large volume metastases.