Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Childhood Ovarian Malignancy

  • Mini Review
  • Published:
The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective of this article is to appraise diagnostic aspects and treatment modalities in childhood ovarian tumor in background of available evidence. Literature search on Pubmed revealed various aspects of epidemiology, histopathological diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric ovarian tumor. 85 % of childhood tumors are germ cell tumors. The varied histopathological picture in germ cell tumors poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Immunohistochemistry and newer genetic markers like SALL4 and karyopherin-2 (KPNA2) have been helpful in differentiating ovarian yolk sac tumor from dysgerminoma, teratomas, and other pictures of hepatoid, endometrioid, clear cell carcinomatous, and adenocarcinomatous tissues with varied malignant potential. Before platinum therapy, these tumors were almost fatal in children. Fertility-conserving surgery with bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin has dramatically changed the survival rates in these patients. This modality gives cancer cure with healthy offspring to female patients with childhood ovarian tumor. Evidence also supports this protocol resulting in successful pregnancy rates and safety of cytotoxic drugs in children born to these patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ximing J Yang,Liang Cheng.Yolk sac Tumor Pathology. e medicine, medscape.com/article/1612196-Overview. 4 Jun 2012.

  2. He L, Ding H, Ding H, et al. Overexpression of Karyopherin 2 in human ovarian malignant germ cell tumor correlates with poor prognosis. PLoS One. 2012;7(9):e42992. doi:10.1371/journalpone.0042992 Epub 2012 Sep 4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Cao D, Humphrey PA, Allan RW. SALL4 is a novel sensitive and specific marker for metastatic germ cell tumors, with particular utility in detection of metastatic yolk sac tumors. Cancer. 2009;115(12):2640–51. doi:10.1002/cncr.24308.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Loh AH, Ong CL, Lam SL, et al. Pediatric risk of malignancy index for preoperative evaluation of childhood ovarian tumor. Pediatr Surg Int. 2012;28:259–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Wiltshaw E, Suart-Harris R, Barker GH, et al. Chemotherapy of endodermal sinus tumor(yolk sac tumor) of the ovary: preliminary communication. J R Soc Med. 1982;75(11):888–92.

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Curtin JP, Rubin SC, Hoskins WJ, et al. Second-look laparotomy in endodermal sinus tumor: a report of two patients with normal levels of alpha -fetoprotein and residual tumor at reexploration. Obstet Gynecol. 1989;73(5 Pt 2):893–5.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Lian L, Huang H, Huang R, et al. Management of ovarian endodermal sinus tumor. Chin Med J (Engl). 1996;109(5):344–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Shen K, Huang R, Lang J. Diagnosis and treatment of endodermal sinus tumor of the vagina. Zhonghua Fu Chan Ke Za Zhi.1999 Feb;34(2):105-7.[Article in Chinese] Source-Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730.

  9. Terenziani M, Spreafico F, Collini P, et al. Endodermal sinus tumor of the vagina. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2007;48(5):577–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Nawa A, Obata N, Kikkawa F, et al. Prognostic factors of patients with yolk sac tumors of the ovary. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2001;184(6):1182–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Metwalley KA, Elsers DA, Farghaly HS, et al. Precocious puberty secondary to a mixed germ cell-sex cord-stromal tumor associated with an ovarian yolk sac tumor: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2012;6(1):162.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Cicin I, Saip P, Guney N, et al. Yolk sac tumours of the ovary: evaluation of clinicopathological features and prognostic factors. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2009;146(2):210–4 Epub 2009 May 5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kang H, Kim TJ, Kim WY, et al. Outcome and reproductive function after cumulative high-dose combination chemotherapy with bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP) for patients with ovarian endodermal sinus tumor. Gynecol Oncol. 2008;111(1):106–10 Epub 2008 Jul 25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. de La Motte Rouge T, Pautier P, Rey A. Prognostic factors in women treated for ovarian yolk sac tumour: a retrospective analysis of 84 cases. Eur J Cancer. 2011;47(2):175–82. doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2010.08.012 Epub 2010 Sep 28.

  15. Tao T, Yang J, Cao D, et al. Conservative treatment and long-term follow up of endodermal sinus tumor of the vagina. Gynecol Oncol. 2012;125(2):358–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Zhang R, Sun YC, Zhang GY, et al. Treatment of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors and preservation of fertility. Eur J Gynaecol Oncol. 2012;33(5):489–92.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Anita AN, Rushdan MN. Reproductive function after treatment of ovarian germ cell malignancy. Med J Malays. 2012;67(1):71–6.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Chang YW, Chao KC, Sung PL. Treatment of ovarian endodermal sinus tumor to preserve fertility. J Chin Med Assoc. 2013;76(2):112–4. doi:10.1016/j.jcma.2012.09.011 Epub 2012 Dec 28.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, R.D. Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, 456006, India

    Kalpana Mahadik

  2. Terna Medical College, Navi Mumbai, India

    Kanchanmala Ghorpade

Authors
  1. Kalpana Mahadik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kanchanmala Ghorpade
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kalpana Mahadik.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mahadik, K., Ghorpade, K. Childhood Ovarian Malignancy. J Obstet Gynecol India 64, 91–94 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-014-0533-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-014-0533-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation