AN UNUSUAL LATE RELAPSE IN PATHOLOGICAL STAGE-I NONSEMINOMATOUS GERM-CELL TUMOR - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Late relapses are exceedingly uncommon in patients with pathologic sta ge (PS) I non-seminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) of the testis trea ted with inguinal orchiectomy and retroperitoneal lymph node dissectio n (RPLND). We describe an unusual patient with PSI NSGCT who relapsed 40 months after surgery. The only evidence of recurrent disease was an elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein level, and complete remission was ac hieved following the prompt institution of combination chemotherapy. T o our knowledge, this is the first report of a late relapse in PSI NSG CT of the testis manifested only as an elevated tumor marker.