Leydig Cell Tumours (LCT) account for 3% of all testicular tumours; 10% are malignant and are refractory to radio- and chemotherapy. The role of Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection in clinical stage I LCT is therefore a particularly debated one. From March ‘83 to December ‘95, 10 patients with LCT were subjected to orchiectomy (1 of them bilaterally because of a metachronous tumour). In 10 out of 11 specimens the following pathological features – a) size larger than 50 mm, b) infiltration of spermatic cord, c) lymphatics and veins, d) capsule, e) necrosis, f) cellular pleomorphism, g) numerous mitoses, h) nuclear atypia – were absent. The only patient in which b) and d) were present was subjected to RPLND. After a follow-up ranging from 17 to 157 months all patients are disease-free. Abstention from RPLND in clinical stage I LCT therefore seems the more rational choice when the above- listed pathologic features are absent.
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