Ovarian teratomas in early childhood

The ovary is second only to the sacroccygeal area as the commonest anatomic site for the occurrence of teratomas (including dermoid cysts) in infancy and childhood. While virtually all sacrococcygeal teratomas are present at birth or appear within the first 24 mo of life, ovarian teratomas are quite rare within the first 24 mo of life and seldom appear before 6 yr of age. Teratomas comprise half the surgically significant lesions of the ovary in infancy and childhood and carry a mean malignancy incidence of approximately 14% in this age group. Seven cases of ovarian teratoma in the first 2 yr of life have been reported. All of these have been seen in the second 12 mo of life. They differ from those occurring after 2 yr of age in the lesser incidence of abdominal pain, the higher incidence of an abdominal mass and the absence of reported malignancy.