Postchemotherapy Resection of Residual Mass in Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumor.

Abstract

The introduction of cisplatin-based chemotherapy has revolutionized the care of patients with disseminated testicular germ cell tumors. Although a majority are cured with chemotherapy alone, surgical resection continues to play a role because one-third will have residual mass after chemotherapy. In this article, we review the current indications for postchemotherapy resection in nonseminomatous germ cell tumors, including masses greater than 1\xa0cm, resection after salvage chemotherapy, with elevated markers, after late relapse, and for growing teratoma syndrome. We also highlight technical considerations of this often-challenging surgery, including the need for adjunctive procedures, extraretroperitoneal resections, and modern techniques to minimize morbidity.