Urology
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Patients with high-stage nonseminomatous germ cell tumors treated with platinum-based chemotherapy who have residual radiographic evidence of disease and fail to normalize tumor markers present a difficult clinical dilemma. Some authors feel that these patients are not appropriate surgical candidates. Our practice has been to offer certain patients salvage surgery in an attempt for cure. This report is designed to review that experience and critically analyze the results. ⋯ Patients with advanced nonseminomatous germ cell tumor who fail to normalize their serum tumor markers after adequate platinum-based chemotherapy should be considered for surgical resection of all radiographically evident residual disease. In select cases this practice offers the only viable chance for cure.