Recurrence of a nonseminomatous germ cell tumor 9 years postoperatively: is surveillance alone acceptable?

We report on a patient who underwent left radical orchiectomy for a nonseminomatous germ cell tumor and was placed into a surveillance program only to experience recurrence 9 years later. The deficiencies with surveillance protocols, including inadequate followup, imaging study difficulties, possible higher mortality with relapse of carcinoma during the surveillance period, and increased cost and labor for longer surveillance protocols are discussed. Methods of distinguishing patients at low and high risk of relapse are still evolving and further studies are required.