Malignant Ovarian Neoplasms in Childhood

Abstract

From 1962 to 1976, 15 children up to the age of 15 years with malignant neoplasms of the ovary were observed at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan. 13 patients had a germ cell tumor and 2 a stromal tumor. Natural history and treatment results are reported. Out of 7 patients with dysgerminoma, 3 at stage IA, 2 at stage III retroperitoneal and 1 with recurrent disease are alive and disease free 38+, 20+, 36+, 16+, 23+, 156+ months after the histologic diagnosis; the last case with stage III peritoneal disease died 2 months after the diagnosis. Four children had immature malignant teratoma: 2 patients are alive and disease free 19+ and 51+ months, 1 is alive with disease 20+ months and 1 died 16 months after histologic diagnosis. Two patients with extra-embryonal teratoma died 7 and 12 months after diagnosis. One patient, treated by surgery plus chemotherapy for granulosa cell tumor at stage III, is alive 43+ months later. The child with arrhenoblastoma at stage III treated by surgery plus radiochemotherapy died 6 months after diagnosis. Through a close scrutiny of the literature and by drawing on experience gained in the treatment of the same tumors in adults, a rational approach to the diagnosis and treatment of each childhood ovarian tumor histotype is worked out.