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Primary adenocarcinoma of the epididymis: the therapeutic role of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy

  • Urology – Case Report
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Abstract

Aims

This case report describes a rare case of adenocarcinoma of the epididymis and the role of locoregional surgery in the therapeutic algorithm.

Clinical case

We report a case of primary adenocarcinoma of the epididymis in a 61-year-old man who was primarily examined for nodular enlargement of the head of the epididymis. Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy which the patient underwent after radical orchiectomy revealed lymph node metastases, subsequently he received adjuvant chemotherapy. The patient remains free of disease for 20 months after surgery.

Conclusions

Primary adenocarcinoma of epididymis is a rare finding with an unfavorable prognosis in higher stages as it responds poorly to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Our case report confirms the importance of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in patients with local or locoregional disease. It may be curative even in case of proven lymphadenopathy and should be performed in all patients without distant metastases.

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Abbreviations

RPLND:

Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy

CT:

Computed tomography

PET:

Positron emission tomography

FDG:

Fluorodeoxyglucose

SUV:

Standardized uptake value

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Research plan of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic FUNDIN MZ0MOU2005.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Žlutý Kopec 7, 65653, Brno, Czech Republic

    Michal Staník, Jan Doležel & Daniel Macík

  2. 1st Department of Pathology, St Anne’s University Hospital, Pekarska 53, 65691, Brno, Czech Republic

    Antonín Krpenský

  3. Department of Complex Oncology Care, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Žlutý Kopec 7, 65653, Brno, Czech Republic

    Radek Lakomý

Authors
  1. Michal Staník
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  2. Jan Doležel
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  3. Daniel Macík
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  4. Antonín Krpenský
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  5. Radek Lakomý
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michal Staník.

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Staník, M., Doležel, J., Macík, D. et al. Primary adenocarcinoma of the epididymis: the therapeutic role of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy. Int Urol Nephrol 44, 1049–1053 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-012-0149-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-012-0149-5

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