Peritoneal carcinomatosis in germ-cell tumor: relations with retroperitoneal lymph node dissection

Am J Clin Oncol. 2000 Oct;23(5):460-2. doi: 10.1097/00000421-200010000-00006.

Abstract

Peritoneal carcinomatosis from germ-cell tumor has rarely been described, and thus remains largely unknown. We report here five cases involving this entity. All five patients had embryonal carcinoma in their primary germ-cell tumor. Four of them had undergone retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND), and viable malignant cells were found. RPLND was performed for relapses (n = 3) and as primary therapy for stage II disease (n = 1). The peritoneum was the only site of relapse in three patients, and was associated with pleural effusion in one. The time to relapse after RPLND ranged from 6 to 14 months. One patient sustained injury to lymph nodes during RPLND, and another patient had a peritoneal xanthelasma. The only three patients already described in the literature underwent RPLND or surgical biopsy. All these observations suggest a striking relation between RPLND and occurrence of subsequent peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Carcinoma, Embryonal / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Embryonal / secondary*
  • Carcinoma, Embryonal / surgery
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lymph Node Excision
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Retroperitoneal Space
  • Seminoma / drug therapy
  • Seminoma / secondary*
  • Seminoma / surgery
  • Testicular Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Testicular Neoplasms / surgery

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents