[Malignant germ cell ovarian tumors: clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome]

Ovarian malignant neoplasms in young girls and teenagers are unusual. The most frequent histological subtypes found are those derived from germ cells. The biological course of this heterogeneous group of neoplasm is unpredictable. The main clinical symptom is chronic abdominal pain and palpable abdominal tumor. Treatment has been improved with combined modality therapy. We present treatment results of the germ cell subtype of malignant ovarian tumors.

A retrospective review was performed from the medical records of 16 ovarian germ cell patients in order to analyze clinical characteristics, type of surgery performed and chemotherapy, as well as final treatment results.

Mean age was 13.8 years, and the left ovary was affected in 75% of cases. The most frequent histological subtype was dysgerminoma (56%). Stage distribution was as follows: stage I, one patient diagnosed with choriocarcinoma; stage II, three cases (19%); stage III, 10 cases; and 2 cases in stage IV. Biopsy was performed in 70% of cases. Mean number of chemotherapy cycles (cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin) was 4, and 85% of patients survived >2 years.

Surgical procedure was conservative and a favorable outcome was observed for the chemotherapy cycles.