When is retroperitoneal lymph node dissection used?
At the end of a course of treatment, a full check-up by the doctor is done including a physical examination, a chest X-ray and CT scan. If these tests show any left over cancer or deposits of secondary cancers, more surgery is usually recommended. The most common operation at this stage of treatment is a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND). A retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) is not a common procedure and is only done in advanced cases of testicular cancer. It involves the surgical removal of the lymph nodes running up behind all the major organs in the abdomen. Sometimes surgery to remove nodules from the lungs is also needed. RPLND is usually needed if chemotherapy is considered not completely successful and lumps can still be seen in the lymph nodes on a CT scan. While the lumps may be scar tissue, they may also be leftover cancer or a benign growth (teratoma).
