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Germ Cell Tumours of the Ovary

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Contemporary Obstetrics and Gynecology for Developing Countries

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Abstract

Ovarian germ cell tumours are uncommon tumours with clinical presentations that vary from benign to frankly malignant, requiring adjuvant chemotherapy for disease control. Due to their rarity, the optimal chemotherapy for these tumours is not fully known. Fortunately, more patients with ovarian germ cell tumours are achieving medium to long-term survival, and younger patients are increasingly able to preserve their fertility potential.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gynaecologic Oncology, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Okechukwu A. Ibeanu

  2. Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute, Sinai and Northwest Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Okechukwu A. Ibeanu

Authors
  1. Okechukwu A. Ibeanu
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Correspondence to Okechukwu A. Ibeanu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

    Friday Okonofua

  2. College of Health Sciences, Chicago State University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Joseph A. Balogun

  3. Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA

    Kunle Odunsi

  4. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Weil Cornell Medicine, Doha, Qatar

    Victor N. Chilaka

Glossary of Terms

Adjuvant treatment

A treatment modality that is used following intended primary treatment. Chemotherapy is the adjuvant treatment of choice following (primary) surgery for malignant germ cell tumours.

Neoadjuvant treatment

A treatment modality that is used prior to the intended primary treatment. Chemotherapy has been used as neoadjuvant treatment for malignant germ cell tumours; as part of non-standard management.

Optimal cytoreduction

Often used in the context of surgery for intra-peritoneal peritoneal cancer dissemination. In ovarian cancer, the GOG has re-defined optimal surgical cytoreduction as residual disease comprising lesions no more than 1 cm in greatest diameter, at the end of surgical resection in the peritoneal cavity. In practice, surgical resection to no gross visible lesions (microscopic disease) is the goal for optimal cytoreductive surgery.

Primary treatment

The intended definitive treatment modality. As described in this chapter, surgery is the primary treatment for germ cell tumours.

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Ibeanu, O.A. (2021). Germ Cell Tumours of the Ovary. In: Okonofua, F., Balogun, J.A., Odunsi, K., Chilaka, V.N. (eds) Contemporary Obstetrics and Gynecology for Developing Countries . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-75385-6_59

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-75385-6_59

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