Malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary

• Published in: Obstetrics and gynecology (New York. 1953) Vol. 95; no. 1; pp. 128 - 133
• Main Authors: Tewari, Krishnansu, Cappuccini, Fabio, Disaia, Philip J, Berman, Michael L, Manetta, Alberto, Kohler, Matthew F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 2000; The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Antineoplastic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Chemotherapy; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Child; Disease Progression; Female; Germinoma - drug therapy; Germinoma - mortality; Germinoma - surgery; Humans; Medical sciences; Ovarian Neoplasms - drug therapy; Ovarian Neoplasms - mortality; Ovarian Neoplasms - surgery; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic - surgery; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; Retrospective Studies; Antineoplastic agent; Dysgerminoma; Human; Treatment efficiency; Adjuvant treatment; Malignant tumor; Malignant teratoma; Female genital diseases; Germ cell tumor; Ovarian diseases; Ovary; Chemotherapy; Platinum; Cohort study; Female
• ISSN: 0029-7844; 1873-233X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0029-7844(99)00470-6

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant therapy for ovarian germ cell tumors. Methods: We reviewed records of women who had malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary from 1977–1997. Results: Seventy-two women had surgical resections of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors and most received adjuvant therapy. Fifty-six women (78%) presented with stage I disease, and 16 (22%) had more advanced disease. Tumor subtypes included dysgerminoma ( n = 20), yolk sac tumor ( n = 8), immature teratoma ( n = 29) and mixed germ cell tumor ( n = 15). Surgical management of the 56 with stage I disease consisted of total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and extensive surgical staging in ten women, whereas a conservative surgical approach, consisting of unilateral adnexectomy with or without comprehensive surgical staging, was adopted in later years ( n = 46). Fifty-six women were treated with postoperative chemotherapy, predominantly platinum-based regimens. The 5-year actuarial survival rate was 93%. None of the 36 women who presented after 1984 have died of disease. Conclusion: These data confirmed that platinum-based adjuvant treatments allow most women with ovarian germ cell malignancies to have conservative surgery without compromising survival.