What does CAT scan showing enlarged lymph node in back mean?
Patient: My husband was recently diagnoised with Testicular Cancer of the rt testi and had it removed. The CAT scan however shows that he has an enlarged lymph node in his back she said 45 cm and that the liver has some spots that were inconclusive. What does this mean about his stage and how does the liver come into play here? Doctor: You have not mentioned the histopathological subtype of the testicular tumor. Most common are the germ cell tumors with two subtypes seminomatous and non-seminomatous germ cell tumors.Apart from lymph nodes in back (retroperitoneum), serum tumor marker levels ( including serum alpha-fetoprotein, serum beta-HCG  and serum LDH ) have to be taken into account for treatment decision and response monitoring.If only lymph nodes are there, it is stage 2 and if liver involvement is also there it is stage 3. Good thing is that Germ cell testicular tumors have such good prognosis (outcome) that there is NO stage 4. Please discuss it with your oncologist.If you can provide the above mentioned information, would be more than happy to comment on treatment options as well.