[Ovarian tumors in children]

Ovarian tumors in children are uncommon. We reviewed all cases of ovarian tumors treated at the Department of Pediatric Surgery of Vicenza Regional Hospital from 1979 to 1994. They include 6 cases of cystic teratoma and 1 gonadoblastoma; the malignant lesions included 1 immature teratoma, 1 dysgerminoma, 1 yolk-sac tumors and 1 patient with ovarian infiltration from malignant leukemia. Only the patient with leukemia died of progression of the disease. These data show that most ovarian masses are benign. Germ-cell tumors are the most common malignancy and epithelial cell tumors are less likely. Epithelial cyst and teratomas are the most common benign lesions. Although ultrasound was 100% accurate in the diagnosis of ovarian pathology, the ultrasonogram could not distinguish between benign and malignant lesions.