Retroperitoneal Lymphadenectomy Testicular tumors metastasize first to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. For a correct pathologic staging, it is necessary to remove them. Even when the disease is known to be present in the lymph nodes at the time of diagnosis, patients can still be cured when treated by appropriate chemotherapy. In these cases lymphadenectomy may be performed after medical treatment if there is remaining residual disease. This type of surgery can now be performed by laparoscopy with minimal trauma by clearing the aorta and the vena cava completely of all of the surrounding lymph nodes. Nerve sparing surgery is optimal, due to magnification, and infertility can be spared in these young patients. Average surgical time 120’-220’ . Back