Outcomes following retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in postchemotherapy residual masses in advanced testicular germ cell tumors

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to study the outcomes of retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) in postchemotherapy residual masses in advanced testicular germ cell tumor (GCT) in the Indian population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 35 patients who underwent postchemotherapy RPLND at our institute after primary (29 patients) or salvage (6 patients) chemotherapy over a period of 9 years (June 2003 to July 2012). RESULTS: The mean age of our patients was 26.8 years. 18 (51.42%) presented with primary tumor in the right testis and 3 (8.51%) had bilateral tumors. Mixed GCT was the most common histology among 19 (54.3%) patients. 14 (40%) patients had the residual mass in para-aortic location, which was the most common site. 14 (40%) patients required an adjunctive procedure, most commonly nephrectomy which was required in 9 out of 14 (25.7%). We recorded 25 complications, mostly Clavien-Dindo grade II. Histopathology of residual mass was necrosis in 17 (48.57%), teratoma in 12 (34.28%), and viable tumor in 6 (17.14%) patients. CONCLUSION: Nearly half of the patients had either teratoma or viable tumor, thus justifying the surgical resection of postchemotherapy residual mass. Although nearly half of the patients had complications, they were adequately managed and there was no mortality. Thus, postchemotherapy RPLND can be a useful procedure in multimodality approach to GCT in carefully selected patients.