Outcome analysis of tumors in undescended testes--a single center experience of 15 years.

OBJECTIVE

To present our experience in managing tumors in undescended testes (UDT) in the last 15 years at our institute, in an attempt to understand the tumor behavior and the optimum approach to management in these patients.

METHODS

This is a retrospective review of all patients with tumors in UDT who had registered and undergone treatment at our institute in the last 15 years. The available records of 50 of these patients were reviewed with respect to the presentation, pathologic type, treatment schedule followed, and the survival and recurrence statistics.

RESULTS

There were 23 patients with seminomatous and 27 with nonseminomatous germ cell tumors. The median follow-up was 21 months (range, 4-180). The 5-year recurrence-free survival was 77.5% in patients receiving chemotherapy first and 59.5% in patients being operated first. There were 4 disease-related deaths in our patients. The 5-year overall survival estimates were 100% for stage I disease, 93.75% for stage II disease, and 76.10% for stage III disease.

CONCLUSION

Most patients with UDT still presented at a higher stage, that is, stage II or stage III disease. Patients receiving chemotherapy first had lesser recurrences than those being operated first. Overall survival was dependent on the stage at presentation and comparable with the rates commonly seen for germ cell tumors in the normally descended testes.