Tumor Chemoconversion Following Surgery, Chemotherapy, and Normalization of Serum Tumor Markers in a Woman with a Mixed Type Germ Cell Ovarian Tumor

doi:10.1006/gyno.2001.6541

Gynecologic Oncology

Volume 84, Issue 3, March 2002, Pages 464-467

https://doi.org/10.1006/gyno.2001.6541 Get rights and content

Abstract

Background. Malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary are often curative after conservative surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Persistent tumors despite normalization of serum tumor markers may represent retroconversion to benign masses, but this is rare in ovarian tumors without teratoma elements. The management in such cases has not been defined.

Case. A young woman with a stage IIIC mixed germ cell ovarian tumor containing endodermal and dysgerminoma elements and elevated serum tumor markers underwent conservative surgery followed by chemotherapy. Residual tumor persisted on CT despite the normalization of serum tumor markers. The residual tissue was resected and contained benign tissue.

Conclusions. In cases where masses persist and serum tumor markers normalize, attaining a histological diagnosis, and not chemotherapy, should be considered.

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Laparoscopic surgery has many well-known advantages over laparotomy, including less blood loss, less pain, shorter recovery periods, and less adhesion formation [11,12]. Ovarian GTS is extremely rare, with only 55 cases reported in the English literature to date [1–6,10,13–38]. Only 3 of these 55 reported cases were managed laparoscopically [1,10,13].
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Case ReportTumor Chemoconversion Following Surgery, Chemotherapy, and Normalization of Serum Tumor Markers in a Woman with a Mixed Type Germ Cell Ovarian Tumor

Abstract

Gynecol Oncol

Ann Oncol

Am J Obstet Gynecol

Gynecol Oncol

Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol

Gynecol Oncol

Clin Radiol

Obstet Gynecol

Gynecol Oncol

Case Report
Tumor Chemoconversion Following Surgery, Chemotherapy, and Normalization of Serum Tumor Markers in a Woman with a Mixed Type Germ Cell Ovarian Tumor