Imaging Appearance of Nongerminoma Pediatric Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors Does Not Discriminate Benign from Malignant Histology

Billmire D, Dicken B, Rescorla F, Ross J, Piao J, Huang L, Krailo M, Pashankar F, Frazier L. Imaging Appearance of Nongerminoma Pediatric Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors Does Not Discriminate Benign from Malignant Histology. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2021 Jun;34(3):383-386. doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2020.11.014. Epub 2020 Dec 13. PubMed PMID: 33316416; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8096645.

Pediatric ovarian neoplasms with imaging appearance suggestive of teratoma are often presumed to have low risk of malignancy. We assessed the pre-operative imaging appearance of pediatric malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCT) and the presence of associated teratoma in a series of MOGCT. Mixed cystic and solid appearance with or without calcification was seen in 83.5% of pediatric ovarian malignant germ cell tumors. Associated benign teratoma was common. The presence of a mixed cystic and solid appearance on pre-operative imaging should not dissuade the surgeon from obtaining preoperative serum markers and undertaking complete surgical staging.