Retrospective review of the outcome of post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in the management of metastatic testicular cancer: Local experience

Objective: Post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) for metastatic testicular cancer is an uncommon surgical procedure in Hong Kong. Therefore, in the present article, we review the perioperative and long-term morbidity, as well as the survival outcome for RPLND carried out in a urological centre. Method: This is a retrospective study of patients suffering from metastatic testicular cancer with post-chemotherapy residual mass subjected to RPLND between 1998 and 2008. Patient and tumour parameters including initial presentation, chemotherapy regimens received prior to RPLND, perioperative outcomes, pathology and long-term results were retrieved from hospital notes and reviewed. Results: Seven patients who underwent post-chemotherapy RPLND were included in the present review. The mean follow-up time was 63.7 months (range 6–136 months), and no recurrence or mortality was reported in this series. Early perioperative morbidity included pulmonary oedema (one), chylous ascites (one) and wound dehiscence (one). Other than ejaculatory dysfunction in all of the patients, there was no major-long term complication reported in our series. Conclusion: This local series confirmed the survival benefit and association of minimal long-term morbidity with post-chemotherapy RPLND.