Pure testicular teratoma in adults: Experience in the treatment of 49 consecutive cases

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to analyse fate and survival in patients with pure testicular teratoma (PTT) according to clinical stage (CS) and applied therapy. Among a survey of 1275 patients with nonseminomatous germ cell testicular tumors (NSGCT) observed from January 1982 and June 2005, we indentified 49 (4%) patients with PTT. In CS I, 3 (15%) of 20 patients on surveillance relapsed. Complete response (CR) is achieved with chemotherapy in 1 patient and combined with postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy (PC RPLA) in 2 patients (fibrosis 1, teratoma 1). Four patients managed with primary RPLA had universal survival. Among 4 patients treated initially with primary chemotherapy due to persistently elevated serum tumor markers (STMs) postorchiectomy, 1 patient died at 18 months. In CS I, 27 (96%) of 28 patients are alive and free of disease (AFD) at median follow-up (MFU) of 161.6 months. In the PC group, 1 patient with partial response (PR) is lost to follow-up at 6 months, 1 patient died of disease at 27 months. Eight patients achieved CR with induction chemotherapy, whereas only 1 patient relapsed at 24 months and is rendered free of disease with RPLA (teratoma). Twelve patients underwent PC RPLA due to PR following induction chemotherapy, combined with thoracic cytoreductive surgery in 2 patients. RP histology demonstrated the finding of fibrosis in 2, teratoma in 8, teratoma with malignant transformation in 1, and vital carcinoma in 1. The patients with fibrosis, teratoma and teratoma with malignant transformation are AFD, whereas the patient with vital carcinoma on desperation RPLA died. According to initial CS IIB, IIC and III PC surgery was indicated in 20%, 91% and 50%, relapse rate was 0%, 18% and 20%, with disease specific survival (DS ) in 100%, 90% and 100%, respectively. At MFU of 189.7 months, 19 (95%) of 20 fully available patients are AFD. Overall, 46 (94%) patients had no evidence of disease (NED) at last follow-up. These data underscore the metastatic potential of PTT. A significant proportion (32%) of patients with low-stage PTT had RP disease. Furthermore, a high proportion (36%) presented initially with advanced disease and demonstrated a considerable risk of relapse despite complete resection or favorable histologic features in the resected surgical specimen.