Radiotherapy in the management of nonseminomatous testicular carcinoma.
Treatment of stage I and II nonseminomatous testicular carcinoma is reviewed. Retrospective studies show comparable cure rates following radiation therapy alone, surgery alone, or radiation therapy and surgery combined. For clinical stage I carcinoma, the long-term disease-free rates appear to be approximately 80%; for clinical stage II disease, the long-term disease-free rates appear to be approximately 60%. The development of effective combination chemotherapy for stage III disease suggests a need to rethink the approach for optimal management of stage II disease. Future clinical trials should be aimed at maximizing cure rates by attention to disseminated disease as well as by local control. Optimal management should also include some consideration of the long-term toxic effects of the various treatment modalities.
D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000628:therapy