title: Post-orchidectomy radiation therapy for patients with stage I seminoma of the testis.
abstract: The outcome of radiotherapy in patients with stage I testicular seminoma was evaluated. During the period 1960-89 (inclusive) 270 patients with stage I seminoma of the testis received radiotherapy to the para-aortic nodes and ipsilateral hemipelvis following radical orchidectomy. Two hundred and fifty seven patients (95.2%) received a minimum tumour dose of 30Gy in 20 daily fractions using 4-6 MV photons. The 5 year overall and recurrence-free survival rates were 97 and 95%, respectively. Only eight of the 270 patients relapsed and three were cured with 'salvage' therapies. Of the 11 patients who died, four deaths (36%) were the result of uncontrolled testicular cancer, six (55%) intercurrent illness and one (9%) the result of attempted salvage. Patients staged and treated prior to 1979 had a significantly worse disease-free survival compared to patients treated during and after 1979. As side effects were negligible, it was concluded that radiotherapy for stage I seminoma provides excellent cure rates. The difficulties arranging a 'surveillance' programme in so large a State as Queensland are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kearsley
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tripcony
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009919:Orchiectomy; D018239:Seminoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery