Post-Chemotherapy Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection in Patients with Non-Seminomatous Germ Cell Tumour (NSGCT)

摘要

Introduction Metastases from testicular cancer commonly follows a predictable path via lymphatic spread to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. The aim of this study was to assess the utilisation and outcomes of post chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND). Methods A retrospective observational study was performed of a prospectively maintained testes cancer database. Results Thirty six patients underwent a PC-RPLND. The final histopathology demonstrated teratoma in 26 (72.2%) patients, viable cancer in 4 (11.1%) patients and necrotic tissue in 6 (16.7%) patients. There was a 55.6% (n=19) postoperative morbidity rate, 78.9% (n=15) in the early (30-day) postoperative period and 21.1% (n=4) in late postoperative period. The mean follow-up of patients was 35 months (range 1-144). Overall, the 5-year recurrence free survival and disease specific survival were 94.4% and 97.2%, respectively. Conclusion The peri-operative management and overall outcomes of PC-RPLND in our series are in-line with international standards.