Thoracotomy in re-staging germinal testis tumors

In 3 patients undergoing therapy for germinal testis tumors (teratoma with choriocarcinoma, seminoma and teratocarcinoma) solitary pulmonary lesions developed consistent with metastatic tumor. After non-diagnostic medical pulmonary evaluation thoracotomy established benign lesions in each (sarcoidosis, Cryptococcus and postoperative inflammatory cyst). Surgical pathologic restaging to obviate the institution of unnecessary chemotherapy and/or radiation with its attended morbidity in such instances is stressed.