Identification of clinical stage A nonseminomatous testis cancer patients at extremely low risk for metastatic disease: a combined approach using quantitive immunohistochemical, histopathologic, and radiologic assessment.

PURPOSE

To evaluate previously determined predictors of metastasis in low-stage testis cancer in a consecutive group of clinical stage A patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ninety-one consecutive clinical stage A nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT) patients who underwent primary nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (NSRPLND) had orchiectomy specimens and computed tomographic (CT) scans evaluated blindly in a quantitative fashion. These scores were then correlated with pathologic stage using previously determined paradigms.

RESULTS

Using volume of embryonal carcinoma in the orchiectomy specimen, lymph node diameters in the primary landing zones and MIB-1 staining of the orchiectomy specimen, 41 patients were classified as low risk for metastasis. Forty of these 41 had pathologic stage A disease at RPLND.

CONCLUSION

These parameters can identify a low-risk group of patients for metastasis who can be rationally offered surveillance.