PTU - Polskie Towarzystwo Urologiczne
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Late relapses in patients with testicular cancer
Article published in Urologia Polska 2003/56/1.

authors

Paweł Wiechno, Małgorzata Sadowska, Beata Paluchowska, Tomasz Demkow
Centrum Onkologii - Instytut im. Marii Skłodowskiej-Curic w Warszawie. Klinika Nowotworów Układu Moczowego Kierownik kliniki: dr hab. Tomasz Demkow

keywords

testis, testicular cancer, late relapse, treatment

summary

Aim of the study. The aim of this study is to present the experience of the Oncology Center in Warsaw in the treatment of late relapses of testicular cancer.
Material and methods. A retrospective analysis was made of 1013 patients treated at our center between 1974 and 1996 for tumor of the testis. In 27 of 1013 patients (2,7%) late relapse, e.g. recurrence observed at least 2 years after complete remission of the primary tumor, was diagnosed. The frequency of late relapses was 3.6% for patients treated previously for seminoma, and 2.3% for those with nonseminomatous neoplasm.
Results. Of 27 patients with late relapse, in 11 patients (41%) seminoma, and in 16 (59%) nonseminoma was diagnosed. The treatment of whole group consisted of cytostatics, combined with surgery in 6. and with radiotherapy in 8 patients (one of them underwent retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy before irradiation). In 21 of 27 patients (78%) complete remission after treatment of the recurrence was noted. In 4 patients (15%) we observed partial remission followed by progression of the disease. Progression during treatment appeared in 2 patients (2%). In 8 patients initial complete remission was followed by progression of the neoplastic disease. In general, durable remission was observed in 13 of 2 7 patients (48%). Twelve patients died.
Conclusions. Late relapses of testicular cancer are rare {2,7% in our material), hi patients with primary seminoma the recurrences are more frequent than in nonseminoma group (3.6% and 2.3%. respectively). Increase of testicular tumor marker values is often associated with relapse. Because of the possibility of late recurrences, long-term follow-up after successful treatment of primary tumor is needed in this group of patients.

references

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correspondence

Pawel Wiechno
Centrum Onkologii - Instytut im. Marit Sklodowskiei-Curie
Klinikti Nowotworów Układu Moczowego
ul. Roentgena 5
02-781 Warszawa
lei/fiu: (0...22) 643 92 31