To investigate and compare the effectiveness of active surveillance versus post-surgical active treatment, in patients with testicular germ cells tumor (TGCT).
We retrospectively analyzed 52 patients who underwent surgery for TGCT from January 2009 to December 2014. All the patients were divided into two age groups: the Group A included children-adolescents from 18 months to 21 years old, while the Group B comprised young adults from 22 to 39 years old. Clinical, histopathological, therapeutic and follow-up data were collected.
Overall, 22 patients (42,3%) were enrolled in the Group A and 30 patients (57.7%) were categorized in the Group B. Inguinal orchiectomy was performed in all patients. Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy was performed in 4 patients (7.7%). Post-surgical management differed based on clinical stage, resulting in active surveillance or adjuvant therapy. After an average 7 years follow-up period (range: 3.5-9.0 years), the overall survival rate is 100%. The relapse risk is significantly higher for the patients in the Group B, displaying a recurrence free-survival rate of 72% versus 95% (Group A); 11 relapses (21.1%) were recorded 2 years after surgery. Of these, 3 recurrences (12.0%) occurred in patients undergoing an active surveillance approach, while 8 (29.6%) in patients subjected to an active treatment.
The excellent prognosis in both age groups confirms the high curability of this neoplasia. The active surveillance could represent an optimal option for low recurrence risk tumors. However, post-surgical treatments should be taken into consideration for TGCT with high risk factors, including tumor size, lymphovascular and rete testis invasion.
Archivio italiano di urologia, andrologia : organo ufficiale [di] Societa italiana di ecografia urologica e nefrologica. 2021 Sep 30*** epublish ***
Claudio Spinelli, Gianmartin Cito, Girolamo Morelli, Marco Ghionzoli, Alessia Bertocchini, Beatrice Sanna, Luca Galli, Andrea Antonuzzo, Riccardo Morganti, Silvia Strambi
Division of Pediatric, Adolescents and Young Adults Surgery, Department of Surgical Pathology, Medical, Molecular and Critical Area, University of Pisa. ., Department of Urology and Andrology Surgery, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence. ., Department of Urology and Andrology Surgery, University of Pisa. ., Division of Pediatric, Adolescents and Young Adults Surgery, Department of Surgical Pathology, Medical, Molecular and Critical Area, University of Pisa. ., Division of Pediatric, Adolescents and Young Adults Surgery, Department of Surgical Pathology, Medical, Molecular and Critical Area, University of Pisa. ., Medical Oncology II, University of Pisa, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa. ., Medical Oncology I, National Health Service Department of Translational Medicine Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa. ., Section of Statistics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa. ., Division of Pediatric, Adolescents and Young Adults Surgery, Department of Surgical Pathology, Medical, Molecular and Critical Area, University of Pisa. .