Ovarian tumors in pregnancy. An ovarian tumor registry review

Among the 2300 cases accumulated in the Emil Novak Tumor Registry between the years 1942 and 1972, there were 100 examples of ovarian neoplasia associated with gestation. Lutein cysts or luteomas were excluded since such lesions usually represent physiologic responses of the gonad to increased levels of chorionic gonadotropin. Only 10 cases of dermoids (benign cystic teratomas) were reviewed. We believe this to be the largest series reported in conjunction with pregnancy. There was a total 5-year salvage rate of 76%, which is obviously much greater than with ovarian tumors in general, although there are certain patients alive with a late recurrence. This excellent survival rate seemingly reflects the low-grade malignant potential of many of the neoplasms encountered during pregnancy. However, certain cases of extremely aggressive and advanced ovarian tumors as noted at operation seemed to do surprisingly well following termination of pregnancy, and one must speculate whether gestation impairs antibody response with an apparent immunologic rebound postpartum.