The histologic finding of teratoma occures in aproximately 40% of all postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy (PC-RPLA) for disseminated nonseminomatous testicular tumors (NSTT). We evaluated patients undergoing PCRPLA for teratoma to determine risk factors for recurrence and clinical outcome. Among a survey of 193 patients submitted to PC-RPLA due to metastatic NSTT from 1980-2005, we identified 82 patients (42%) who were found to have only teratoma in the retroperitoneum. Sixty-seven patients (82%) received only induction cisplatin-based chemotherapy, and 15 (18%) required 2nd line chemotherapy. PC-RPLA histology revealed mature teratoma (MT) in 86%, immature teratoma (IMT) in 12% and teratoma with malignant transformation (TMT) in 2%. Sixteen patients (19%) relapsed within median free interval of 22 months. Among 13 patients submitted to redoRPLA, discordant histology occurred in 6 patients (46%) (2 TMT, 4 viable germ cell tumors [GCT]), all with worst histology in comparison to primary RPLA. One relapsing patient with only elevated serum tumor markers (STMs) achieved complete response with chemotherapy alone. Two patients relapsed at 21 and 74 months with widespread metastasis and died despite salvage chemotherapy. Seven of 13 patients (54%) who were rendered free of disease (FOD) with redo-RPLA, relapsed again. All but one died despite salvage treatment (2 of chemotherapy related toxicity) within mean survival time (MST) of 86.7+/-26.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 98.79- 149.21). At mean follow-up (MFU) of 135+/-62.6 months (95% CI, 98.79-149.21), alive and free of disease (AFD) are 90% patients. The probability of being reccurence-free at 5- and 10- year was 87% and 81%, respectively. The 5- and 10- year probability of disease speciphic survival (DSS) were 98% and 89%, respectively. On multivariate analysis residual mass size (p<0.005) and worse IGCCCG risk group (p=0.01) predicted disease recurrence. Patients with residual teratoma after PC-RPLA continue to exibit a 19% risk of recurrence even 10 years after RPLA, with 46% recurrence being with worse histology. These data support that these patients should undergo long-term surveillance of their retroperitoneum in the setting of a large residual mass or elevated IGCCCG classification risk.

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