Malignant ovarian teratoma in childhood

Successful treatment of three cases of malignant ovarian teratoma is reported. The first manifestation was abdominal pain in all cases. An abdominal mass was palpated in one patient only. Ultrasonography and computerized tomography could not supply an exact preoperative diagnosis. The initial therapy was unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Peritoneal implants were present in all three cases. The implant was malignant in two children and peritoneal resection was performed. Further treatment consisted of combined chemotherapy with actinomycin, adriamycin, vincristin and cyclophosphamide according to a modified T2 protocol. Radiation therapy was also applied to the entire abdomen. The favourable results may be attributed to this aggressive combined treatment, which may improve prognosis.