The role of tumour markers and lymphography in determining clinical stage of non-seminomatous testis tumours.

Findings established by means of tumour markers examination and lymphography were compared with histological findings in retroperitoneal lymph nodes removed during lymphadenectomy. Overall accuracy of tumour markers was 70.1%, sensitivity was 71.4% and specificity was 67.9%. Overall accuracy of lymphography was 79.4%, sensitivity was 80.7% and specificity was 77.5%. Combined results of tumour markers and lymphography showed overall accuracy 73.1%, sensitivity 93% and specificity 37.5%. Since neither the results of tumour markers examination, nor lymphography are sufficiently sensitive in order to determine exactly the presence of metastases in regional lymph nodes, retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy must be considered in the present for a method which is not only of therapeutic, but also of diagnostic and prognostic importance.