Prognosis for pathologic stage I non-seminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis managed by retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy.

The over-all 3,5 and 10-year survival rate for 87 patients with non-seminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis undergoing retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy was 90.5 per cent. Of the 72 patients receiving no form of therapy other than retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy after operative removal of the testicular tumor the 5-year survival rate was 90.8 per cent. The 5-year survival rates for these 72 patients, calculated according to the histologic characteristics of the primary tumor, were 74.4 per cent for 18 patients with embryonal carcinoma, 93.0 per cent for 36 patients with teratocarcinoma and 100 per cent for 18 patients with teratoma. Although no advantage could be demonstrated for bilateral lymphadenectomy as opposed to unilateral dissection, it is concluded that a modified bilateral dissection should be reserved only for tumors on the left side.