Late relapse of non-seminoma of the testis

Recurrences of non-seminoma of the testis occurring after disease-free period longer than 2 years are very uncommon. We have analysed all patients (pts) with nonseminomatous germ cell tumor of the testis (NCGCT) who were treated in the Cancer Center in Warsaw between 1978 and 1995 and relapsed more than 24 months after complete remission. in the whole group of 711 pts, seven (1%) had late recurrence. Most of them had initial stage II disease and histological examination of the primary tumor in most cases revealed presence of teratoma or carcinoma embryonale. At late relapse 3/7 pts had increased AFF level, one Ft had increased AFP and HCG, After second line treatment only 1 patient has been disease-free for 12 months. Three pls died of disseminated NSGCT, one is alive with progressive disease and 2 pts are treated now.