Clinicopathologic Characteristics of Malignant Germ Cell Tumors in the Ovaries of Korean Women: A Korean Gynecologic Oncology Group Study

Abstract

From January 1995 to December 2000, medical records of 196 patients were collected from 14 hospitals nationwide and were reviewed retrospectively. We evaluated the clinicopathologic characteristics of malignant germ cell tumors in the ovaries of South Korean women and determined the prognostic factors affecting recurrence. The mean patient age was 23.8 years (range, 4-63 years), and the median follow-up period was 67 months (range, 1-128 months). The distribution of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage was as follows: 128 cases (65.3%) in stage I, 27 cases (13.8%) in stage II, 39 cases (19.9%) in stage III, and 2 cases (1.0%) in stage IV. Histologically, immature teratoma was the most common tumor type (n = 68), followed by dysgerminoma (n = 54), endodermal sinus tumor (n = 38), mixed form (n = 24), and choriocarcinoma (n = 12). A fertility-sparing operation was performed in 134 patients, staging operation in 43 patients, and hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in 19 patients. Postoperative chemotherapy was administered in 166 patients, and the most common regimen was bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (n = 120). Recurrence was observed in 13 patients (6.8%) and was influenced by the stage of the tumor and patient age (>40 years). The 5-year survival rate was 96.7%. During the follow-up period, 20 patients had 22 pregnancies that resulted in 17 normal deliveries at term and 5 abortions. The results of this study demonstrate that most malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary in Korean women are detected in the early stage and have excellent survival outcomes with conservative operation and platinum-based chemotherapy.

Pregnancy with Ovarian Dysgerminoma : An Unusual Diagnosis

“…9 About 75% of dysgerminoma affect the women below 30 years of age and they are extremely rare after the age of 50. 7,10,12 Lee et al reported the mean age of women in their study as 23.8 years ( Range 4-63 years ) 11 ,a finding similar to our case. Most of the ovarian neoplasms are asymptomatic and are often diagnosed on clinical examination or picked up on grey scale sonography.…”

Pseudopapillary and Macrofollicular Microscopic Growth Patterns in an Advanced Stage Ovarian Dysgerminoma: A Case Report

“…Epithelial cell tumors represent the majority of all ovarian neoplasms (82%) (1). Conversely, germ cell tumors (GCTs) are rare, comprising approximately 20% of all ovarian tumors, both benign and malignant ones (1,2). Approximately 3-5% of ovarian GCTs are malignant (2).…”

“…Conversely, germ cell tumors (GCTs) are rare, comprising approximately 20% of all ovarian tumors, both benign and malignant ones (1,2). Approximately 3-5% of ovarian GCTs are malignant (2). The most commonly occurring GCTs is dysgerminoma, which accounts for approximately 2% of all ovarian cancers (2).…”

“…Approximately 3-5% of ovarian GCTs are malignant (2). The most commonly occurring GCTs is dysgerminoma, which accounts for approximately 2% of all ovarian cancers (2). Extra-ovarian tumor spread of dysgerminomas often involves the retroperitoneal and pelvic lymph nodes; these tumors are highly susceptible to radiotherapy (3).…”

“…Dysgerminoma is one of two most common types of ovarian germ cell tumor (1)(2)(3). It has been reported in a wide range of seven months to seventy years, but most cases are young adults and less than twenty years (4).…”