Ovarian Cancer in Children and Adolescents: Treatment and Reproductive Outcomes

Objective: To review ovarian cancer cases in children and adolescents in Siriraj Hospital and assessthe 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 hadbeen treated at Siriraj Hospital between January 1990 and December 2009. Medical records were reviewedand 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 weresex cord-stromal and epithelial tumors. More than half (25/48 cases) presented with stage I disease. The mostcommon used chemotherapy regimen for germ cell tumors was BEP (bloemycin, etoposide, cisplatin). Most ofpatients had favorable outcomes; 46/48 cases had complete remission and retained their good health at the timeof the review. We had only one recurrent case and one dead case. Ten of contacted patients had married and 3of them had successful full-term pregnancies.
Conclusions: Ovarian malignancy in children and adolescents isa 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.