Robotic retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma

Paratesticular sarcoma is an aggressive malignant tumor of mesenchymal origin. The rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common among children. Rhabdomyosarcoma treatment consists of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Prognosic depends on local recurrence and distant metastasis.

We present the case of a 16-year-old male, who in April 2016 underwent right radical orchiectomy surgery by testicular mass rapidly evolving, with pathological results indicating a paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma. The extension study showed a precaval adenopathy suggestive of lymph node metastasis, therefore it was a high-grade rhabdomyosarcoma. There was an appropriate response after chemotherapy (Protocol EpSSG RMS2005) and we decided to perform a robotic lymphadenectomy.

We performed a transperitoneal approach with 8 mm trocar and 12 mm optica trocar. We accessed the retroperitoneal space through a latero-colic incision. Then we performed a craniocaudal lymph node dissection until the aortic bifurcation. The surgical time was 240 min with a blood loss of 200 ml. There were no complications. The patient was discharged on the fourth day after surgery. Pathology showed metastasis of rhabdomyosarcoma without capsular rupture. After two months, we placed the left testicle into inguinal canal prior to radiotherapy.

Robotic lymph node metastasis lymphadenectomy from paratesticular sarcomas is a feasible treatment with the advantage of minimally invasive surgery and acceptable morbidity.