Ovarian tumours in children: A review of 18 cases

Abstract

Background: To review the experience of Children’s Hospital of Rabat in managing ovarian tumours in children.

Materials and Methods: There were 18 patients between 2 and 15 years of age who presented with an ovarian tumour at Children’s Hospital of Rabat between January 2000 and December 2008. Data collected from the  hospital medical records included age at diagnosis, patient’s history, presenting complaints, radiological examination, tumour markers,  management, operative procedure, histopathological examination and outcome of the patients.

Results: The most common presenting complaint was abdominal pain in 10 (55%) patient. 77% of ovarian tumours were germ cell tumours; 71% of these were teratomas which were benign in 66% of cases. Unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was the most common surgical procedure  performed in 15 patients (83%) through laparotomy. Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy was carried out in 2 (11%) patients with benign cystic teratoma. Of the 7 (39%) patients with malignant tumours, three received  postoperative chemotherapy. Outcome was good in most cases. There were no cases of resistance to treatment, or death.

Conclusion: Early diagnosis of ovarian tumours in children and adolescents is important. Since most of these tumours are benign, surgical treatment should be conservative to minimise the risk of subsequent infertility, while the treatment of malignant tumours should include complete staging, resection of the tumour, postoperative chemotherapy when indicated, to give the patient a chance for future childbearing.

Key words: Children, fertility, germ cell tumours, ovarian preservation, ovarian surgery, ovarian tumours, teratoma