[Ovarian dysgerminoma in children and adolescents. Retrospective clinico-pathologic study]

To review the treatment strategy, follow up and outcome for all patients with pure ovarian dysgerminoma treated in childhood and adolescence.

Twenty-one patients younger than 18 years were treated between 1979-2002 in Faculty Hospital Motol for newly diagnosed pure ovarian dysgerminoma. Patients were included into the cohort on the basis of revision of archival biopsy specimens deposited in Institute of Pathology and in Molecular Medicine tumor registry. The staging was reviewed retrospectively on the basis of surgical and pathological findings and on results of imaging investigations and outlined according to the TNM and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) classification. The median age at the time of diagnosis was 12.5 years (range 6 years, 5 months--17 years, 11 months). There were ten FIGO stage IA tumors, one stage IB, two of stage IIC, one stage IIIB and seven IIIC tumors. All patients, except two girls with bilateral dysgerminoma, underwent unilateral adnexectomy or ovarectomy. Ten girls were treated postoperatively with chemotherapy, eight with chemotherapy and radiotherapy (eleven with cisplatine based chemotherapy). Three girls with dysgerminoma confined to the ovary (stage IA) have not received adjuvant chemotherapy. With a median follow up 7.1 years all girls remained continuously disease free. The 5-year overall and event free survival is 100%. Majority of patients does not have severe treatment sequelae, three pregnancies have occurred so far.

Most patients with dysgerminoma, including those with metastases can expect cure when treated with conservative surgery and cisplatine based chemotherapy. Reduction of treatment toxicity and preservation of reproductive function is a main task. The girls with dysgerminoma confined to the ovary (stage IA) can be treated with fertility sparing surgery, other should be treated with cisplatine based chemotherapy.