title: Diagnostic difficulties before definitive treatment of an extragonadal retroperitoneal germ cell tumor.
abstract: A primary extragonadal germ cell tumor of the retroperitoneum was diagnosed in a 47-year-old man without elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, or lactate dehydrogenase levels. The diagnosis was made by histologic analysis after resection. The patient responded well to a combination of cisplatin, etoposide, and ifosfamide, achieving a partial response with four cycles. Residual tumor resection revealed necrotic tissue only. The patient was alive and disease free 24 months after diagnosis. The diagnostic difficulties of this particular situation are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Charité Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lassmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wille
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wiechen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taupitz
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Loening
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000032:analysis; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018237:Germinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D012074:Remission Induction; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D005047:Etoposide; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D002945:Cisplatin; D007069:Ifosfamide