(BRYN MAWR, PA; March, 2008) -- Ilia S. Zeltser, MD , Urologic Surgeon at Bryn Mawr Hospital, is among an elite group of physicians nationwide and the only in the Philadelphia region performing laparoscopic Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection, a safe and effective way to treat testicular cancer, as well as help establish its exact stage and type, with less pain and faster recovery when compared to traditional surgical procedures.

“The incidence of testicular cancer is on the rise making it the most common cancer in men between the ages of fifteen and thirty-four,” said Dr. Zeltser. “Fortunately, it is highly treatable, even when the cancer has spread beyond the testicle.” 

Treatment for testicular cancer typically involves the surgical removal of the affected testicle. In some cases when the cancer has spread or has a high risk of spreading, the surgeon may also remove the lymph nodes in the chest area in a procedure called retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND).

As Dr. Zeltser explains, the standard way of doing RPLND involves a large incision that extends from the chest to several inches below the belly button. Laparoscopic RPLND is a new technique which uses several small incisions to perform the surgery. This approach is much less invasive, which results in less pain, scarring, infection, and recovery time.

Although this procedure has proven safe and highly effective in treating testicular cancer, as in any surgery there are risks such as bleeding and potential sexual side effects that could affect fertility. 

Ultimately, the most successful treatment for testicular cancer is early detection. Dr. Zeltser recommends that young men should learn to perform self-examination (TSE) shortly after puberty.

“Self-examination performed on a monthly basis plays a major role in detecting tumors at earlier stages -- before they spread,” said Dr. Zeltser.

Dr. Zeltser is an expert in minimally invasive urologic surgical techniques at Bryn Mawr Hospital and Bryn Mawr Urology Associates in Rosemont. For more information or to make an appointment, call 610-525-6580.

Published:3-25-2008