Progression of stage 1 non-seminomatous germ cell tumours during surveillance. A case report. Place of positron emission tomography.

Surveillance is one of the options proposed in the management of stage 1 no n-seminomatous germ cell tumours when there is only a low risk of progressi on. No consensus has yet been reached concerning the modalities of this sur veillance and several protocols are available, including the CCAFU protocol . The presence of recurrences in this population at low risk of progression, estimated to be 5%, accounts for the continuing research for more precise p redictive factors of occult metastases. Although several studies appear to indicate a useful predictive value for some of these factors, their applica tion in clinical practice still appears to be difficult. PET metabolic imaging (positron emission tomography) could constitute a new approach to staging of these tumours, allowing the detection of tumour sit es by an increase of carbohydrate metabolism of malignant cells. However, n o study is yet available to define the real place of this technique.