Efficacy of routine follow-up after first-line treatment for testicular cancer.

Abstract

To define guidelines for the follow-up management of patients treated for testicular germ cell tumor this study assessed characteristics of patients with recurrent disease. The charts of 505 patients with testicular cancer treated and followed-up at the University Medical Centre Nijmegen between 1982-2000 were reviewed retrospectively. In 42 patients disease recurrence was found during routine follow-up. In a subset of patients no recurrences were seen after first-line treatment: (a) pathological stage IIa nonseminoma patients who were adjuvantly treated with chemotherapy and (b) histologically confirmed complete responders after primary chemotherapy. Furthermore, in low-stage disease no intra-abdominal recurrences were seen in (a) pathological stage I nonseminoma patients and (b) low-stage seminoma patients who received radiotherapy. The risk of recurrent testicular cancer depends on primary therapy and efficacy of it; these results indicate a limited role for follow-up in pathological stage II nonseminoma patients adjuvantly treated with chemotherapy and in histologically confirmed complete responders after chemotherapy. Abdominal computed tomography does not appear necessary in routine follow-up of patients treated for low-stage testicular cancer.

• Authors: J R Spermon, J A Witjes, L A L M Kiemeney
• Journal: World journal of urology (World J Urol) Vol. 22 Issue 4 Pg. 235-43 (Oct 2004) ISSN: 0724-4983 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 15448994 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Follow-Up Studies
• Germinoma (epidemiology, therapy)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (epidemiology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Testicular Neoplasms (epidemiology, therapy)