Download Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in men with testicular cancer

 Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in men with testicular cancer Axel Gerdtsson, Division of Urology [email protected] This project aims to investigate surgical outcome after retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) in men with testicular cancer. Do type of surgery correlate with residual tumor, retrograde ejaculation , quality of life, sexual function and fertility? What risk has a patient with a right sided testicular cancer for left sided lymph node metastasis? What kind of complications are common after RPLND? Are change in tumorsize pre and post chemotherapy a prognostic factor for viable cancer? 350 men in Sweden are diagnosed with testicular cancer each year and the number is increasing. Symptoms of testicular cancer are swelling of one of the testicles, pain or a palpable lump. Treatment for testicular cancer is removal of the affected testicle and chemotherapy. Two types of testicular cancer occurs, seminomas and non‐seminomas. Non‐seminomas are often metastasized to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes at diagnosis whereas seminomas are often located only in the testicle. After initial treatment, patients with metastasis that are more than 1 cm on CT‐scan will be selected for retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. In 50% of the patients, the lymph nodes are not harboring cancer cells and in the other 50%, the patients have viable tumor or teratoma. The surgery in for removal of retroperitoneal metastasis are different between centers and surgeons. Some do only lumpectomy which is removal of one lymph node, others do unilateral retroperitoneal lymph node dissection or bilateral lymph node dissection. After surgery retrograde ejaculation is common due to nerve damage. The Swedish and Norwegian Testicular Cancer Group (SWENOTECA) is a Swedish/Norwegian collaboration focusing on diagnosis, treatment and survival for men with testicular cancer. From 2007 to 2014 information from 350 patients with non‐seminomas that undergo retroperitoneal surgery have been collected in a database called RETROP. Radiological lymph node status pre and post chemotherapy and surgery, lymph node locations, time in the operating room and hospital stay, surgical complications, morbidity, residual tumors , number of nodes affected by cancer , residual tumor and type of cancer have been collected.