Dysgerminoma of the ovary

From 1938 to 1977, 21 patients with pure dysgerminoma were treated at Memorial and James Ewing Hospitals, now Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Twelve patients were considered to have their initial therapy begun or completed at our institution. Eleven (91.7%) of 12 patients were found free of disease from 2 to 38 years (median 6 years). Nine patients were referred with recurrent disease. Only 4 (45%) could be salvaged 2 to 21 years (median 9 years). Because of the lower survival rate in the treatment of recurrent disease in this series, it is difficult to advocate overly conservative therapy initially in all early lesions. The survival rate depends on the original size of the tumor, initial adequate staging and appropriate therapy based on the extent of disease. Recommendations for a treatment protocol are proposed.