Size and status of metastases after inductive chemotherapy of germ-cell tumors. Indication for salvage operation.

Secondary resection of metastases remaining after inductive chemotherapy of advanced germ-cell tumors has thus far been obligatory. The absence of malignant components in one-third of all residual tumors and the high risk of the operation have led several authors to reconsider the criteria for this approach. In a retrospective study of 153 cases (127 evaluable) we investigated the histology of the primary tumor and the size of the residual tumor with regard to residual histology and outcome. Patients were divided into the following three groups according to the histology of the primary tumor: group I, pure seminoma (16 patients); group II, nonseminoma without teratoma (32 patients); and group III, nonseminoma with teratoma (79 patients). Among the 16 purely seminomatous tumors, the residual masses ranged from 2 to 12 cm; 12 consisted of necrotic tissue only, 3 contained malignant germ-cell elements, and 1 contained adult teratoma. The residuals of primarily teratoma-free nonseminomas measured 2-16 cm; the smallest residual tumor containing active malignant elements measured 4 cm, and the diameter of the largest necrotic residue was 6 cm. Four residuals contained mature teratoma. The size of residuals from teratomatous primary tumors was 3-24 cm; the smallest malignant tumor measured 5 cm, and the diameter of the largest purely necrotic mass was 8 cm. According to our results, a secondary operation may be omitted if the residual mass of a primary seminoma is smaller than 5 cm or if that of a primary nonseminoma without teratoma is less than 3 cm in diameter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)