Ovarian borderline mucinous tumor in a premenarchal girl: review on ovarian epithelial cancer in young girls

Gynecologic Adnexal Tumors and Tumor-Like Lesions in Children and Adolescents: Experience at a Cancer Center

Introduction. Tumors and tumor-like lesions of the uterine adnexa in children and adolescents are uncommon but may carry devastating consequences. Methods. We conducted an observational retrospective cohort study, to describe patients aged 0 to 19 years diagnosed with tumors and tumor-like lesions of the uterine adnexa at our institution between 2000 and 2018. Results. Eighty-nine patients with 105 adnexal lesions were included. Thirty-seven (42%) patients presented with benign tumors, 13 (15%) with borderline tumors, 25 (28%) with malignant tumors and 14 (16%) with tumor-like lesions. Germ cell tumors (n = 45|43%) were the most frequent, followed by epithelial tumors (n = 30|29%). No significant differences were found in the age distribution of the lesions by malignant potential or histologic group. Most patients (n = 80|90%) were treated primarily with conservative surgery, including cystectomy (n = 25|28%) and unilateral oophorectomy/adnexectomy (n = 54|61%). Thirty-four (38%) underwent surgical staging (partial omentectomy and peritoneal biopsies). Twenty (23%) patients with borderline and malignant tumors were submitted to chemotherapy. Four (5%) patients with borderline or malignant tumors relapsed, one of whom died from disease. Conclusion. Gynecological lesions in children and adolescents encompass a wide range of rare histological tumor subtypes, requiring evaluation by experienced pathologists. Most tumors were diagnosed at early stages, with low relapse and mortality rates. Conservative management, with fertility sparing surgery and limited use of adjuvant chemotherapy, is of utmost importance.

Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary in a 14-year-old girl: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Ovarian epithelial tumors are common in adults, and their peak incidence of onset is over 40 years of age. In children, most ovarian tumors are germ cell-derived, whereas epithelial tumors are rare and mostly benign.

CASE PRESENTATION

This report describes a case of a 14-year-old Chinese girl with ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. She was admitted with a small amount of bloody vaginal discharge during the past month. Magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen and pelvis showed a large solid cystic mass lesion in the left ovary. Tumor marker levels were within normal limits ( CA-125: 22.3 U/mL, HE4: 28.5 pmol/L, HCG: < 1.20 mIU/ml, AFP: 3.3 ng/ml, CEA: 2.2 ng/ml, CA19-9: < 2.0 U/mL). Laparoscopic exploration revealed a large left ovarian tumor. The patient underwent left salpingo-oophorectomy, and showed no significant issues during follow-up, as well as no evidence of recurrence or metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

We report the first pediatric case of ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma in China. Given the scarcity of reports addressing the clinical management of this condition, the present study provides a useful contribution to its further understanding in light of developing future treatment strategies.

Progression of Cystadenoma to Mucinous Borderline Ovarian Tumor in Young Females: Case Series and Literature Review

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To study the progression of benign ovarian lesions to mucinous borderline ovarian tumors (mBOTs); analyze the clinicopathologic features, diagnosis, and management of mBOTs in pediatric and adolescent girls; and provide a review of the literature on mBOTs in this population.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review of female adolescents younger than 18 years diagnosed with mBOTs between July 2017 and February 2021.

SETTING

Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut; and Yale New Haven Health Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, Connecticut.

PARTICIPANTS

Three female patients diagnosed with mBOTs between ages 12 and 17 years.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Clinical presentation, preoperative characteristics, surgical technique, histology, tumor stage, treatment, progression, outcome, and rate of recurrence.

RESULTS

Three adolescent patients were identified to have mBOTs. All three patients presented with a chief complaint of abdominal pain. One of the 3 patients was premenarchal at presentation. Two of the 3 patients were initially diagnosed with a mucinous cystadenoma and had recurrences of an ovarian cyst in the same ovary within 5 and 17 months, respectively. Pathology of the recurrent cyst was consistent with mBOT. Two of the 3 patients initially underwent cystectomy, and all ultimately had a unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Subsequent surveillance over 2 to 4 years found no evidence of disease recurrence.

CONCLUSION

mBOTs are rare in the pediatric and adolescent population and could arise from benign ovarian tumors.

The Case of a Serous Borderline Ovarian Tumor in a 15-Year Old Pregnant Adolescent: Sonographic Characteristics and Surgical Management

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe a rare case of a serous borderline ovarian tumor (BOT) diagnosed during pregnancy in a 15-year old adolescent.

RESULTS

The suspect of BOT was raised at a transvaginal ultrasound scan in early first trimester (at 5 weeks of amenorrhea), due to the presence of a moderately vascularized irregular papilla in the context of a unilocular low-level right ovarian cyst. The patient and her parents required termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the diagnosis of an ovarian lesion. After termination of pregnancy, the patient underwent laparoscopic enucleation of the ovarian mass, omentectomy, and peritoneal biopsies. No intra-abdominal spillage of the ovarian mass occurred, and the surgical specimens were put in an endobag and extracted transvaginally. Final pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a serous borderline ovarian tumor. The patient of free of disease after 8 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Although rare, borderline ovarian tumors can be diagnosed in an adolescent during pregnancy. The combination of specific sonographic assessment and minimally invasive conservative surgery appears as a very effective approach in this type of patient.

KEY POINTS

· BOTs can occur in pregnant adolescents.. · Transvaginal ultrasound is crucial to suspect BOT.. · Laparoscopic conservative treatment is feasible..

Ovarian neoplasms of childhood

Ovarian neoplasms are rare in children. Although usually asymptomatic, they sometimes present with abdominal pain, abdominal distension or palpable mass. The distribution of neoplasms in the pediatric population is different from in adults; benign mature cystic teratoma is the most common ovarian tumor in children. Radiologists should be familiar with the variable sonographic, CT and MRI findings of ovarian neoplasms. Although the less frequently encountered ovarian malignancies cannot be reliably distinguished by imaging alone, it does play an important role in workup. This review discusses the imaging and relevant clinical manifestations of the more commonly encountered pediatric ovarian neoplasms.

Pediatric Adenocarcinoma in Korea: A Multicenter Study

Purpose

Adenocarcinoma is an extremely rare malignancy in the pediatric population. Research regarding pediatric adenocarcinoma is very rare in Korea. This study aimed to investigate the clinical features of pediatric adenocarcinomas of various primary organ sites in Korea.

Materials and Methods

Pediatric patients under 18 years, diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of various sites between January 1995 and December 2016, were included. We retrospectively reviewed patient and tumor characteristics and calculated survival estimates, reported as 5-year survival rate and 95% confidence interval.

Results

Of 80 patients (median age, 15 years; range, 10 to 17 years), 37 (46.3%) were men, and 24 (30%) had a family history of cancer or underlying disease relevant to malignancy. The cancer locations were the colon and rectum (n=32), ovaries (n=18), stomach (n=15), lung (n=4), small bowel (n=1), and other sites (n=10). Totally, 54.8% patients (42/77) had stage 3 or 4 disease. The median follow-up period was 2.0 years (range, 0 to 20.4). The 5-year overall survival estimate for all patients, and for those with stomach, colorectal, ovarian, and other cancer sites were 57.9%±11.5%, 58.2%±25.7%, 41.5%±18.2%, 87.5%±16.2%, and 64.0%±34.4%, respectively. The 5-year survival rate differed significantly between categories of adenocarcinomas into gastrointestinal (GI) (44.7%) and non-GI adenocarcinomas (78.8%) (p=0.007). The 5-year survival rate also differed significantly according to carcinoembryonic antigen level (69.3% in < 3 ng/mL, 23.8% in > 3 ng/mL; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

In pediatric patients, adenocarcinomas arise from various organs and are often diagnosed at advanced stages. Large, prospective studies for their accurate clinical characteristics and prognostic factors are needed.

Treatment Approach and Prognosis of Pediatric and Adolescent Nonepithelial Malignant Ovarian Tumors: A Retrospective Prognosis Analysis

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Nonepithelial malignant ovarian tumors are rare in the pediatric and adolescent population. The aim of this study was to observe the spectrum of pathology, presentation, outcome, and risk factors for survival of pediatric nonepithelial malignant ovarian tumors in a Chinese pediatric population. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: This was a retrospective study of 171 girls (median age at presentation of 14 years) diagnosed with primary malignant ovarian tumors between 1990 and 2014 at the Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University. Symptoms, pathological data, treatments, and outcomes were obtained retrospectively from the medical records.

RESULTS

Most (85.96%, 147/171) tumors occurred in patients aged 10-18 years and most cases were International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I (68.42%, 117/171). The predominant pathological type was germ cell tumors (87.13%, 149/171). All patients underwent surgery, and 87 (50.88%, 87/171) underwent conservative incomplete staging surgery (unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy or tumor excision). The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 59.2%. The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 88.7%. Surgical hospital (hazard ratio, 0.388; 95% confidence interval, 0.213-0.706; P = .002) was independently associated with PFS. Recurrence state (hazard ratio, 163.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.321-20,181.875; P = .038) was independently associated with OS.

CONCLUSION

Ovarian cancers in children and adolescents have features of good prognosis. Girls who received their first surgery in a tertiary hospital had better PFS. Patients who did not suffer recurrence had better OS.

Borderline Ovarian Tumor in the Pediatric and Adolescent Population: A Case Series and Literature Review

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine the diagnosis, management, and outcome for children and adolescents with borderline ovarian tumor (BOT), and to provide a review of the literature on BOT in children and adolescents.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study of female adolescents younger than age 21 years diagnosed with BOT between January 2001 and May 2016.

SETTING

Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas.

PARTICIPANTS

Fourteen patients (ages 12 to 18 years) diagnosed with BOT.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Clinical presentation, preoperative characteristics, surgical technique, cancer stage, histology, treatment, and recurrence.

RESULTS

Median age at diagnosis was 15.5 years, with most postmenarchal. Abdominal mass/pain were the most common presenting symptoms. Median tumor size was 16.6 cm (range, 4-32 cm). Preoperative cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) was elevated in 54% (7/13) of cases. All patients had fertility-preserving surgery, either cystectomy (CY) or unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (USO): 5 via laparoscopy (LSC) and 9 via laparotomy. Most were stage I with 5 serous and 9 mucinous BOT histology. No one received adjuvant chemotherapy. Two patients had recurrence. One had ipsilateral recurrence 2 months after LSC CY for FIGO stage IC1 mucinous BOT. The second had contralateral recurrence 15 months after laparotomy, right USO for FIGO stage IIIC serous BOT treated with LSC CY, then a second recurrence treated with USO after oocyte cryopreservation for fertility preservation. All patients were alive at last follow-up, 1 with disease.

CONCLUSIONS

BOT in children and adolescents can be treated conservatively with fertility-preserving techniques and surveillance with good outcome. The role of adjuvant therapy is not known.

Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of ovary with metastasis in 14-year-old girl

Ovarian mucinous tumors in <15 years old are rare with <50 cases reported till date in the literature. Majority of them are benign or borderline epithelial ovarian tumors with only 12 cases of cystadenocarcinomas reported at a young age. We report a case of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma in 14-year-old girl with metastasis to omentum at the time of presentation. Management of such cases is tricky as conservative approach sparing fertility of the patient is adopted. This case is presented for its rarity and unique presentation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the thirteenth case of ovarian cystadenocarcinoma being reported at a very young age and the first case being reported from Indian subcontinent. Extensive review of the previously published cases in the literature has been done in this study.

Ovarian Cancer in Children and Adolescents: Treatment and Reproductive Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

To review ovarian cancer cases in children and adolescents in Siriraj Hospital and assess the prognosis, recurrence of disease, and reproductive outcomes after treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in ovarian cancer patients 21 years and younger who had been treated at Siriraj Hospital between January 1990 and December 2009. Medical records were reviewed and relevant data were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 48 cases met the criteria; their mean age was 16.4 years. Abdominal distension was the major symptom. 91.6% were germ cell tumors and the remaining cases were sex cord-stromal and epithelial tumors. More than half (25/48 cases) presented with stage I disease. The most common used chemotherapy regimen for germ cell tumors was BEP (bloemycin, etoposide, cisplatin). Most of patients had favorable outcomes; 46/48 cases had complete remission and retained their good health at the time of the review. We had only one recurrent case and one dead case. Ten of contacted patients had married and 3 of them had successful full-term pregnancies.

CONCLUSIONS

Ovarian malignancy in children and adolescents is a rare disease. The authors reported 48 cases in 20 year-period of work. Most of them have favorable outcomes. Return of ovarian function and fertility are the topics of interest.

Epithelial Tumors of the Ovary in Children and Teenagers: A Prospective Study from the Italian TREP Project

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To report the clinical findings and treatment results of a series of patients with epithelial tumors of the ovary, registered and treated prospectively in a multi-institutional Italian network (TREP project) on rare tumors in children and adolescent between 2000 and 2014.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Data on 16 patients, aged 22 to 206 months, from 7 centers were reviewed. All patients were grouped on the basis of the results of the first surgical approach, according to the Children Oncology Group staging system.

RESULTS

The most frequent symptom was abdominal pain; 3 patients were hospitalized for acute pain after ovarian torsion. Initial surgical treatment was complete in 15 of 16, and a biopsy was performed in 1 of 16. The histology examination revealed 8 benign tumors (7 mucinous cystadenomas and 1 serous cystadenoma) and 8 borderline tumors (2 serous and 6 mucinous). Fifteen of 16 patients maintained the complete remission after surgical treatment alone; 1 affected by Proteus syndrome died consequent to the progression of a synchronous Wilms tumor, after a delayed incomplete surgery.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis documented the rarity of these tumors in children and adolescents. No malignant histologies were found. Surgery alone was effective to cure the majority of patients. Considering the rarity of malignant entities, ovary-sparing surgery may be planned when an epithelial tumor is suspected on the basis of the preoperative work-up and intraoperative findings.

Ovarian masses in children and adolescents in China: analysis of 203 cases

Objective

The true incidence of ovarian tumors in children is unknown. Few studies beyond case reports and case series have been published concerning pediatric ovarian tumors. Herein we review a large number of ovarian tumor cases.

Methods

The charts of 203 patients who presented with adnexal masses were reviewed.

Results

The patient’s ranged in age from 2 to 18 years (mean = 15.6 years), with 30 being premenarchal (14.8%). The incidence of ovarian tumor increases with age, especially in patients older than 14 years. The main complaint was abdominal pain or abdominal distension in 117 patients (57.7%). A high AFP level in a pre-pubic girl with an adnexal mass is indicative of a malignant ovarian tumor. The 214 adnexal masses (11 patients had bilateral cysts) consisted of benign tumorous oophoropathy (107 masses, 50.0%), borderline and malignant tumors (29 masses, 13.6%), and nontumorous oophoropathy (78 masses, 36.5%). Of the 136 neoplasia, germ cell tumors accounted for 71.5%. Surgical intervention was performed in 98.5% of cases. There were statistically decreased blood loss, surgery duration and days of hospitalization with the laparoscopic procedure when compared with open surgery.

Conclusions

Abdominal pain is the most common complaint in young patients with adnexal masses. AFP is the most useful diagnostic biomarker of ovarian tumors in young females. Laparoscopic resection of ovarian cysts is an alternative operation approach.

Ovarian borderline tumors in pre-menarche girls

By reason of a new case of an ovarian mucinous borderline tumor (BOT) in a pre-menarche girl, a research of current literature was implemented. Low-grade malignant epithelial tumors are extremely rare in young children and, as far as we know, only a few case reports exist. The patients presented with vomiting, pain, and a swollen lower abdomen. Pre-operative diagnosis primarily consists of imaging techniques. At Stage Ia, the tumor is confined to the ovary without penetration of the capsule, no malignant ascites or peritoneal implants. Treatment consists of removal of the tumor combined with concurrent salpingo oophorectomy, appendectomy, omentectomy, and peritoneal lavage. Although the treatment recommendations are not uniform, basically, preservation of fertility is the main objective. The prognosis is very good, but recurrence is possible even after 10 years.

Laparoscopic resection of massive ovarian mucinous cystadenoma

Benign mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary is extremely rare in children and adolescents. Because of the benign, slow-growing nature, they can be extremely large at the point of presentation. These large abdominal tumors present a challenging opportunity for the application of minimally invasive techniques. The authors present a case of an extraordinarily large childhood mucinous cystadenoma removed laparoscopically.

Pediatric borderline ovarian tumors: a retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) are uncommon in the pediatric population, and there have been limited studies that have included a small number of patients. In present study, we evaluated the clinical outcomes and the rates of recurrence of pediatric BOTs with larger sample size than those in previous studies.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed on 29 patients who were treated for histopathologically confirmed BOTs at our institution between January 1997 and December 2009.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patients (median age, 18 years) had a large-sized tumor (median, 19.8 cm). Abdominal pain was the most common symptom, seen in 82.8% of the patients, followed by abdominal distension. The permanent section histology revealed 25 mucinous (86.2%) and 4 serous type tumors (13.8%). There was considerable discordance between the permanent and frozen sections (rate of concordance, 55.1%). Disease stage was IA in 26 patients (89.7%) and stage IC in the other 3 patients (10.3%). All patients underwent fertility-preserving surgery. Overall, 4 patients (13.8%) experienced a clinically suspicious recurrence requiring surgery. In 2 cases, the suspected recurrences were found to be other benign ovarian tumors. In one case that was initially treated with left ovarian cystectomy for a mucinous BOT, subsequent left salpingo-oophorectomy confirmed recurrence of a mucinous BOT at 16-month follow-up. The last case was a newly developed primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma with no evidence of recurrence of a previous mucinous BOT at 26-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that BOTs in pediatric populations can be successfully treated conservatively to preserve fertility with no apparent increased risk of morbidity or mortality compared with those of more radical surgical options.

Mucinous cystadenoma arising 3 years after ovarian-sparing surgery for mature teratoma in a child

We report the case of a 15-year-old girl diagnosed with mucinous cystadenoma 3 years after ovarian-sparing surgery for a mature teratoma located in the same ovary. Ovarian teratoma is the most common ovarian neoplasm in children, whereas mucinous cystadenoma is extremely rare during childhood.

Value of ultrasonographic detection of normal ovarian tissue in the differential diagnosis of adnexal masses in pediatric patients

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the presence of normal ovarian tissue, the 'ovarian crescent sign' (OCS), could assist in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant adnexal masses in young patients.

METHODS

This was a prospective observational study, from March 2004 to January 2006, which included 98 patients younger than 20 years of age (including two with bilateral tumors) with an ultrasonographic diagnosis of an adnexal mass. Morphological assessment using the Ueland index was performed in each case. Patients were also systematically examined for the presence of the OCS and a comparison was made with the Ueland index. All findings in surgically treated patients were compared with the final histological diagnosis.

RESULTS

There were 100 adnexal masses: 90 were benign and 10 were malignant. Forty-eight were managed expectantly and 52, including 17 cases of adnexal torsion, underwent surgical treatment. The OCS was found in 65 (72%) benign adnexal masses and in one (10%) non-invasive malignant tumor. A Ueland index score of < 7 was found in 85 (94%) benign masses and in one (10%) non-invasive malignancy. The OCS was seen in 15 (45%) of 33 masses in premenarchal patients and in 51 (76%) of 67 masses in postmenarchal patients. The OCS was absent in 15 (88%) of the torsioned adnexal masses.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of normal ovarian tissue adjacent to an ovarian mass is a useful morphological feature that can assist exclusion of a malignant tumor in pediatric and adolescent patients. When compared with the Ueland index, diagnostic sensitivity of the OCS is similar, but specificity is lower. The presence of the OCS is significantly less frequent in premenarchal patients than in postmenarchal patients.

Ovarian mucinous cystadenoma of borderline malignancy in a premenarchal girl

Ovarian mucinous cystadenomas are benign epithelial neoplasms that occur most often in the third to sixth decade of life. Ovarian mucinous cystadenoma can be classified into 3 categories (benign, borderline malignancy, malignancy) based on histopathologic evaluation. Premenarchal cases of ovarian mucinous cystadenoma of borderline malignancy are exceedingly rare. To the best of our knowledge, there have been only 4 reported cases of borderline ovarian mucinous cystadenoma prior to 2009. Here we report a 13-year-old premenarchal girl with a giant mass occupying almost the whole of the abdomino-pelvic cavity.

Bilateral ovarian serous borderline tumor with a giant non-invasive peritoneal implant in a four-year-old girl

Epithelial ovarian tumors are uncommon before 20 years of age and rarely occur before puberty. The vast majority of these tumors are benign, and few cases of malignant and borderline tumors are described. We report a case of a 4-year-old premenarchal girl, previously healthy, who presented with two abdominal masses. Laboratory analysis of blood showed elevation of the serum level of the CA-125. Ultrasonographic examination disclosed bilateral cystic ovarian masses. Laparoscopic exploration revealed bilateral ovarian multicystic masses with retro-uterine peritoneal implant. Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with implant resection was performed. Histologic findings were consistent with a serous borderline tumors of both ovaries and the peritoneal implant was of the non-invasive type. There is no evidence of recurrence at 3-year follow-up. To our knowledge, there are only four cases of ovarian borderline tumors in premenarchal girls reported in the English literature: three of the mucinous type and only one of the serous type.

Ovarian epithelial tumors of low malignant potential: a case series of 5 adolescent patients

Epithelial ovarian neoplasms are uncommon in pediatric and adolescent patients, accounting for approximately 20% to 30% of ovarian tumors in adolescent females and women younger than 25. Tumors of low malignant potential (LMP) account for a significant proportion of epithelial neoplasms in this patient population. This case series describes 5 adolescent patients, with a mean age of 14.4 +/- 2.4 years, diagnosed with ovarian tumors of LMP at one institution. Between November 2001 and January 2006, 5 patients were diagnosed with ovarian tumors of LMP of 126 patients who had surgery for adnexal masses. All patients underwent initial surgery via laparotomy. Two patients underwent ovarian cystectomy, and 3 had at least a unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. One patient had stage IIIc disease, whereas the other 4 patients, not all completely staged, had presumed stage I disease. Three patients developed recurrent ovarian masses on follow-up. Two had recurrent LMP tumors (one bilateral) and one was a benign mucinous cystadenoma. This case series of 5 adolescent patients with ovarian tumors of LMP highlights the importance of considering epithelial neoplasms in any pediatric or adolescent patient with a pelvic mass and supports conservative management, with staging and fertility-sparing surgery; however, appropriate follow-up is essential, as evidenced by 3 of 5 patients exhibiting recurrent ovarian masses.

Occurrence of two rare malignant neoplasms (breast and ovarian) in an adolescent female

BACKGROUND

Phyllodes breast tumors, particularly malignant ones, are rare in adolescents. Tumor behavior does not correlate with histopathology. This case of an adolescent with a malignant phyllodes tumor, followed by the occurrence of a borderline ovarian tumor, also uncommon in adolescence, may shed light on our understanding of phyllodes and uncommon gynecologic malignancies in the young.

CASE

A-14 year-old Caucasian female underwent wide local excision of a 4-cm malignant phyllodes breast tumor. At 17 years of age she had excision of a serous borderline tumor of the ovary.

COMMENTS

The occurrence of two rare neoplasms in an adolescent female raises questions about a common underlying etiology, such as a genetic mutation. Genetic evaluation of minors is a sensitive and complex issue. Natural history studies regarding phyllodes tumors presenting in adolescence are needed to establish recommendations regarding best practice, including the role of genetic evaluation in this population.

A population-based analysis of 1037 malignant ovarian tumors in the pediatric population

BACKGROUND

Concerns of malignant potential have impacted the utilization of ovarian salvage for treatment of ovarian masses in children.

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry was analyzed for all females < or =19 y diagnosed with an ovarian tumor between 1973 and 2005.

RESULTS

Overall, 1037 pediatric patients with ovarian tumors were identified. Approximately 61.7% of tumors occurred in patients 15 to 19 y old. The age-adjusted incidence of all malignant pediatric ovarian tumors in those < or =9 y was 0.102 versus 1.072 per 100,000 in those aged 10 to 19 y. The majority of cases (57.4%) present at an early localized stage. The predominant pathology was germ cell tumors in all age groups (77.4%). Overall 5- and 10-y survival rates are 91.7% and 91.4%, respectively. By multivariate analysis, advanced disease stage (HR 3.17, P<0.001), lack of surgery (HR 4.49, P =0.039), and poorly differentiated tumors (HR 3.40, P=0.011) were associated with worse outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Malignant ovarian tumors are rare, particularly in patients under 5 y of age. Furthermore, the most common histologies are of low metastatic potential and carry high cure rates. Thus, the surgeon should implement ovarian-sparing strategies on the affected ovary unless a malignancy is clearly suspected and conserve the contralateral ovary in all children.

A huge ovarian mucinous cystadenoma in a 14-year-old premenarchal girl: review on ovarian mucinous tumor in premenarchal girls

Superficial epithelial ovarian tumors are unusual in adolescent girls (when compared with adult women) and extremely rare before menarche. Mucinous cystadenoma (MCA) in children that is a rare form of epithelial tumor is a benign cystic ovarian neoplasm. To our knowledge, there are only eight cases of mucinous cystadenoma, three of borderline mucinous cystadenoma, and three of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma reported in the English-language literature. We present a 14-year-old premenarchal girl with a giant ovarian mucinous cystadenoma. This review is supported by the finding that epithelial ovarian neoplasms are extremely rare prior to puberty and that only 14 mucinous tumors have been reported prior to menarche.

Mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary in perimenarchal girls

Ovarian masses in children are an uncommon occurrence. They represent less than 2% of all tumours in girls less than 16 years of age. Mucinous tumours of the ovary occur principally in middle adult life and are extremely rare prior to menarche. To the best of our knowledge, there are only 13 previous cases of benign mucinous cystadenoma (MCA) of the ovary in perimenarchal girls reported in the literature. We present six cases of this rare tumour. We reviewed the charts of six patients who presented with large MCA of the ovary. The patient's ages ranged from 13 to 14 years (mean 13.6 years). Two were premenarchal and four were within 1 year of menarche. All children presented with marked abdominal distension and discomfort. Except for one child who had ultrasound scan alone, all the others had either CT or MRI scan as well. Ultrasound demonstrated a large multiloculated cystic mass arising from the pelvis reaching the level of the xiphoid. CT demonstrated an enormous mass occupying almost the entire abdomen. The mass was partly solid, partly cystic and the cystic elements were multiloculated in all patients. Three patients demonstrated contralateral hydronephrosis on imaging. Laparotomy revealed a tumour arising from the left ovary in five patients and from the right ovary in one. Several litres of fluid were aspirated in order to deliver the tumour from the abdomen. All patients underwent oophorectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy. Histology revealed benign MCA of the ovary in all cases. On follow up, ranging from 2.4 to 5 years, all patients were well with no evidence of recurrence. MCA in perimenarchal girls usually affects the left ovary. Although this tumour is rare, this diagnosis should be considered in 11 to 15-year-old girls presenting with a very large abdominal mass.

Chronic abdominal pain secondary to a mucous cystadenoma of the appendix in a 10-year-old boy

Mucocele of the appendix is a thin-walled dilated appendix filled with mucus. It occurs secondary to chronic obstruction of the appendiceal lumen because of a range of pathologies. Cystadenomas in children are exceedingly rare and most frequently of ovarian origin. A mucous cystadenoma of the appendix in a 10-year-old boy with chronic abdominal pain is presented.

Benign ovarian masses

Primary tumors of the ovary are uncommon in children and the majority of these masses are not malignant. As newer diagnostic imaging techniques have increased the detection of all ovarian masses, the frequency of ovarian cancer has actually decreased. Clinical symptoms are generally not helpful in distinguishing benign from malignant masses, but radiographic criteria have been developed. Surgical treatment is aimed at ovarian preservation if the lesion proves benign.

Malignant lesions of the ovary in childhood

Approximately half of all lesions of the ovary in childhood are neoplastic, yet only a small fraction of neoplastic lesions contain malignant elements. Overall, malignancies of the ovary account for 10% of all ovarian masses and 1% of childhood cancers. Primary ovarian malignancies fall into three broad categories based on the cell type of origin. Germ cell tumors predominate and may be further subdivided based on the differentiation of the malignant cells. Epithelial cell tumors, which are most common in adults, and sex-cord stromal tumors each make up 15% of the total in children. Rare malignant lesions and metastatic disease account for the small remaining group of tumors. Regardless of tumor type, the majority of patients present with localized disease, but proper surgical staging is important to determine the need for adjuvant therapy. The development of platinum-based chemotherapeutic regimens has resulted in significant improvements in long-term survival, even for children who present with advanced stage disease.

Ovarian masses during adolescence: clinical, ultrasonographic and pathologic findings, serum tumor markers and endocrinological profile

This retrospective study was undertaken to assess the epidemiological and clinical features, laboratory findings, preoperative work-up, surgical treatment and pathologic findings in adolescents with ovarian cysts. All adolescents who were referred to our institution and had been operated on because of a diagnosed ovarian mass, from January 1997 to June 2003, were included in this study. Forty-four cases of women with an ovarian mass were retrospectively analyzed. These patients, aged between 12 and 21 years, had 47 ovarian masses (three patients had bilateral lesions), of which 49% were non-neoplastic and 51% were neoplastic. Of the neoplastic lesions, 62.5% were germ cell tumors, 20.8% were epithelial and 16.7% were sex cord-stromal tumors. Of the neoplastic tumors, 95.8% were benign while 4.2% were malignant. Procedures included 30 operative laparoscopies (68.20%) and 14 exploratory laparotomies (31.8%). Simple excision of the ovarian cyst was performed in 39 cases (88.6%). According to our study, most of the adolescents with an ovarian cyst underwent an operation because of a neoplastic lesion. The majority of ovarian tumors occurring in adolescents are non-epithelial in origin, and germ cell tumors are the most common histological type. Ultrasound examination is one of the most important diagnostic tools. Preoperative diagnostic approach of these patients should always include careful history taking, physical examination, imaging and evaluation of serum assays. Gynecologists who care for young girls must be familiar with the differential diagnosis of ovarian masses whose surgical treatment should be conservative when appropriate, so that hormonal status and future fertility are not compromised in this group of patients.

Epithelial ovarian tumors in children: a retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Epithelial tumors of the ovary account for about 15% of pediatric ovarian masses. The authors reviewed a 14-year experience with ovarian masses to understand the spectrum of pathology, presentation, and outcome of children with epithelial lesions.

METHODS

All ovarian masses resected or biopsied at the authors' institution from 1988 to the present were reviewed retrospectively. Patient age, presenting symptoms, operative procedures, postoperative treatment, and outcome were obtained from the medical record.

RESULTS

A total of 240 cases were identified. A total of 123 (51.2%) were nonneoplastic in nature. Of the 117 neoplastic masses, 79 (67.5%) were germ cell tumors and nineteen (16.2%) were epithelial-derived tumors. Patients with epithelial tumors had a mean age of 13.9 +/- 4 years. Ten patients (52.6%) presented with abdominal pain, and 9 (47.4%) presented with an asymptomatic mass. Eleven underwent oophorectomy, 6 underwent cystectomy, and 2 had biopsy alone. Four patients (21%) had ascites, and 1 (5.3%) had a pleural effusion. The histopathologic diagnoses for the epithelial tumors included 9 serous cystadenomas (47%) and 3 mucinous cystadenomas (16%), 3 mucinous cystadenocarcinomas (16%), and 4 serous tumors of borderline malignancy (21%). Two patients (11%) had bilateral disease. Four patients (21%) underwent a subsequent laparotomy for either staging or recurrence, and 2 patients (11%) required chemotherapy. One patient (5.3%) died of ovarian adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Epithelial tumors comprise a small but significant proportion of pediatric ovarian masses. The pediatric surgeon must understand the biologic characteristics, operative management, and follow-up treatment of these tumors, and how these differ from germ cell lesions.

Diagnosis, pathology, staging, treatment, and outcome of epithelial ovarian neoplasia in patients age < 21 years

BACKGROUND

Epithelial ovarian neoplasms are rare in patients under the age of 21 years. This is a report of a series of such patients documenting their presentation, histologic type, stage of disease, treatment, and outcome.

METHODS

Clinical findings, histology, stage, treatment, and outcomes of 19 patients with epithelial ovarian neoplasia are reported. All histology was rereviewed.

RESULTS

The median age at the time of diagnosis was 19.7 years (range, 14.1-21.8 years), and the median follow-up was 5.6 years (range, 0.2-19.5 years). The most common presenting symptom was dysmenorrhea (100%) followed by abdominal pain (68%), and the initial diagnosis usually was made ultrasonographically. There were nine (47%) serous tumors, 7 (37%) mucinous tumors, 2 (11%) small cell carcinomas, and 1 (5%) endometrioid carcinoma. Seventy-nine percent of tumors were unilateral, and 84% were low malignant potential or well differentiated tumors. Surgical treatment included unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in 12 patients (63%), total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in 6 patients (32%), and ovarian cystectomy in 1 patient (5%). Fifteen patients (79%) had Stage I disease, and 4 patients (21%) had Stage III disease at the time of diagnosis. There were two deaths in this series, and both occurred in patients with small cell anaplastic carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Epithelial ovarian neoplasias are rare in patients in this age group but must be included in the differential diagnosis of an ovarian mass. Most patients present with Stage I tumors of low malignant potential. In these patients, good survival is achieved with unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and preservation of fertility. In contrast, small cell carcinomas are very aggressive, and patients with this variant require intensive therapy.

Mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary in a 15-year-old girl

Benign neoplasms of the ovary originating from epithelial tissue are common tumors in adult women. They are, however, rarely seen in children or adolescent girls. Here the authors present a case of an ovarian mucinous cystadenoma in a premenarchal girl. To our knowledge, there are only 5 other cases reported in the literature.

Ovarian adenocarcinoma in premenarchal girls

Ovarian neoplasms are unusual in the paediatric age group; the majority of them are of germ cell origin. Malignant epithelial tumours of the ovary occur infrequently in adolescent girls. Ovarian carcinoma in particular is extremely rare before puberty. The authors describe 3 cases of adenocarcinoma of the ovary in premenarchal girls and highlight the unique characteristics of this tumour in this age group.

Low-grade ovarian cancer in an adolescent patient

BACKGROUND

Ovarian tumors in the pediatric population are most likely to be of germ cell origin. However, serous tumors have also been reported in adolescent patients.

CASE

A 14-year-old girl was diagnosed with stage IIIc low-grade ovarian cancer. Her serum CA-125 was elevated preoperatively and was a marker for recurrence of disease. Five months after completing standard chemotherapy, she developed recurrent disease, which progressed despite hormonal therapy. She then developed toxicity on liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil) and is now receiving hospice care.

CONCLUSION

Low-grade serous adenocarcinoma of the ovary can present as advanced disease and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an ovarian mass in an adolescent patient.

Evaluation of adnexal masses in adolescents

The detection of adnexal masses in adolescents is worrisome to patients, their families, and physicians. Reassurance can be given that the vast majority of these lesions are benign. Furthermore, a significant fraction of benign masses are functional ovarian cysts, most of which resolve spontaneously and never need surgery. Imaging is critical in determining the management of these patients. Sonography is the preferred first-line diagnostic tool. When surgery is necessary, physicians must recognize the importance of conserving the ovaries and uterus to avoid the loss of reproductive and endocrine function.

Ovarian malignancies in adolescence

Ovarian malignancies, although rare during adolescence, constitute the most common genital neoplasms in this age group. Germ cell tumors account for the majority of cases (61.5%), whereas 20% belong to the common epithelial group and 9.5% derive from sex cords and ovarian stroma. Dysgerminomas are the most frequent germ cell tumors. They are usually large and often secrete hormones and tumor markers that can be useful in monitoring the course of the disease. Diagnosis is often made in stage IA, and conservative surgery is the treatment of choice. In the epithelial neoplasm group, mucinous tumors are more common than usual (39.4% instead of 12%). The incidence of borderline tumors is also higher (30.3% versus 6-10%). Adnexectomy and, if needed, extirpation of peritoneal implants is considered adequate treatment. Sex cord-stromal tumors consist of epithelial (granulosa-Sertoli cells) and mesenchymal elements in a variety of combinations. Granulosa cell tumor is the most common subtype, presenting as the juvenile form in young females. It is of low malignant potential and is adequately treated with adnexectomy only.

Borderline ovarian tumors

Borderline tumor of the ovary (BOT) is an epithelial tumor with a low rate of growth and a low potential to invade or metastasize. This tumor often is associated with a significantly better prognosis than epithelial ovarian cancer. Most tumors are either serous or mucinous in histology and present as early stage lesions. However, stage III lesions with peritoneal implants are not uncommon. Patients with early stage lesions have an excellent prognosis. Patients with higher stage lesions have a worse prognosis. Long-term follow-up of patients with BOT is required since the tumor can recur up to 20 years after the initial diagnosis. Recently, investigators have begun to identify subsets of patients with a worse prognosis, such as patients with aneuploid tumors. Treatment for early stage lesions is surgical and conservative surgery can be accomplished successfully in younger patients who desire to maintain fertility. Treatment for later stage lesions has been approached in a variety of ways. All approaches initially begin with maximal cytoreductive surgery. Studies suggest that early stage disease should be managed with surgery alone. Conflicting results on the usefulness of adjuvant therapy for patients with later stage disease have been obtained. At this time, the usefulness of adjuvant therapy for advanced disease remains undetermined. Further understanding of the basis of the disease and analysis of specific higher risk subsets might identify patients in whom adjuvant therapy could be tested in the setting of controlled clinical trials.