[Inguinal metastasis of stage I testicular tumors]

In 9 of 152 patients treated between 1975 and 1985 for stage I germ cell tumours of the testis we saw inguinal metastases. They appeared 2 to 26 months (median = 9.3 months) after orchiectomy and unilateral lymphadenectomy, including peri-iliac lymphadenectomy. In 3 cases predisposing factors such as surgical interference or local tumour extent explained the unusual metastasis; in 6 patients it was obviously due to atypical lymphatic drainage. The therapy of choice in these cases is (adjuvant) chemotherapy and salvage lymphadenectomy in the case of residual tumour.