Reoperative Retroperitoneal Surgery: Etiology and Clinical Outcome

Retroperitoneal recurrences following retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) are rare events and, with few exceptions, should be regarded as either surgical or technical failures, or a result of inappropriate modifications to the original RPLND template. Although not a substitute for an adequate initial RPLND, reoperative retroperitoneal surgery is a viable option for properly selected patients. In the hands of experienced surgeons at tertiary care centers, reoperative retroperitoneal surgery is associated with long-term survival in a significant proportion of patients, with an acceptable degree of morbidity.