Predictors of positive retroperitoneal lymph nodes in patients with high risk testicular cancer.

Objective: Percent of embryonal carcinoma and lymphovascular invasion in the primary tumor are risk factors for occult retroperitoneal metastatic disease. High risk patients with clinical stage I and IIA nonseminomatous germ cell tumor who underwent primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection were identified to discern any other risk factors for metastatic disease.

Methods: Patients who had undergone retroperitoneal lymph node dissection at our institution from 1993 to 2009 were identified and clinical charts were reviewed. A total of 90 patients with orchiectomy specimens containing more than 30% embryonal carcinoma who underwent primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection were identified and perioperative data were obtained.

Results: Of 353 patients 90 (25%) had greater than 30% embryonal carcinoma and underwent primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Of these patients 45 (50%) had lymphovascular invasion. Median followup was 1.1 years. Positive lymph nodes identified at retroperitoneal lymph node dissection were noted in 30 (46%) and 15 (60%) patients with clinical stage I vs clinical stage II disease. On multivariate analysis embryonal carcinoma (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.04) and lymphovascular invasion (OR 3.52, 95% CI 1.43-8.67) were associated with positive lymph nodes at retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. The positive predictive value for 100% embryonal carcinoma was 65.5%, although the negative predictive value for 30% embryonal carcinoma was 85.7%.

Conclusions: Embryonal carcinoma and lymphovascular invasion were significantly and independently associated with the risk of occult retroperitoneal metastatic disease. These results should be considered when counseling patients about appropriate treatment options.