Immature teratomas of the genital tract in older women

We report the clinicopathologic features of three women, 40 years of age or older, with malignant genital tract immature teratomas. All had FIGO stage III, grade II or grade III tumors. One tumor arose from the fallopian tube, the second from the ovary, and the third involved the cortical surfaces of both ovaries with minimal parenchymal involvement. The tumors weighed 1700, 5660, and 330 g and had histologic features similar to those generally seen in younger women. Two of the women died within 1 year of diagnosis. Interval growth of tumor after treatment with chemotherapy was documented in the third patient; she was reexplored and all of the excised tumor was composed of mature tissues. These cases affirm that, although rare, malignant germ cell tumors can occur in older peri- or postmenopausal women.