Primary retroperitoneal seminoma

Abstract
In a retrospective review (1950–1975) of the Mayo Clinic experience with seminomas (483 cases), twelve patients (2.5%) were found to have a retroperitoneal seminoma without evidence of testicular involvement. The mean age was 47 years (range, 31–67). Eleven patients were treated by radiation alone, with doses ranging from less than 2,000–5,800 rads. Seven patients are alive with a median follow-up of six years. The median survival of the five that died is ten months. Good prognostic factors are typical histopathology and an encapsulated tumor. Poor prognostic factors are atypical histopathology, a nonencapsulated tumor, a symptomatic abdominal mass and a nonfunctioning kidney at the time of diagnosis. Although the review includes few patients, it seems reasonable to suggest irradiation of the tumor bed and paraaortic lymph nodes to a minimum dose of 2,000 rads. Prophylactic treatment of the mediastinum and supraclavicular lymph nodes should be considered if one or more of the poor prognostic factors are present.