GERM CELL TUMOURS OF THE OVARY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: A CLINICAL STUDY OF 109 PATIENTS IN A SPECIALIZED CANCER CENTRE

Abstract

Objective: Paediatric ovarian germ cell tumours (GCTs) are rare tumours with malignant tumours extremely rare. Methods: All the paediatric patients who received treatment for histology proven ovarian GCT at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital from January 2006 to December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients over the age of 18 years were excluded from the study. A total of 109 patients were included in the study. A set of parameters were identified to record initial clinical presentation and examination, imaging and laboratory investigations including tumour marker levels. Decisions of multidisciplinary team meetings, surgical treatment, neo adjuvant, adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation data retrieved. Data analysiscarried out using SPSS 20. Results: In total 109 girls presented to our hospital during the study period, most of them above the age of 5 years, with dysgerminoma being the most common followed by yolk sac tumour. Most of the patients received treatment outside our hospital and were referred here for chemoradiotherapy. Fertility preserving surgery was the most commonly performed surgical procedure with a mean follow-up of 50.4 months and >75% overall 5-year survival. Conclusion: Regardless of histologic types, the outcomes of GCT can be improved with a multidisciplinary approach. Key words: Dysgerminomas, germ cell tumours, ovarian tumours