[size=22px]Which of the following constitutes stage III disease in a patient with a testicular germ cell tumor?

 

A Presumed metastatic disease in lungs

 

B Positive retroperitoneal lymph nodes

 

C Failure of tumor markers to normalize after radical orchiectomy

 

D Radical orchiectomy via scrotal rather than inguinal incision[/size]

B

correct answer

B Positive retroperitoneal lymph nodes

 

Based on the staging system for testicular germ cell tumors from the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), stage III disease indicates retroperitoneal lymph node involvement. This includes patients with biopsy-proven lymph node disease and any retroperitoneal nodes or nodal mass greater than 4 cm on CT.​

 

​Radical orchiectomy via scrotal incision or tumor markers that fail to normalize after orchiectomy are consistent with stage II disease. Metastatic disease is consistent with stage IV.