Pediatric ovarian neoplastic tumors: incidence, age at presentation, tumor markers and outcome.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the incidence, age of onset and tumor marker levels in benign and malignant pediatric ovarian neoplastic tumors.

DESIGN:

Retrospective database study.

SETTING:

Single-center study.

POPULATION:

Forty-five 0-15-year-old girls operated on for ovarian neoplastic tumors from the beginning of 1999 to the end of 2013.

METHODS:

Serum alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin and CA 125 levels as well as follow-up data were recorded from patient charts and tumor histology was re-evaluated.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Incidence of ovarian neoplastic tumors in the pediatric population. Differences in patient characteristics and tumor marker levels between those with benign and malignant tumors.

RESULTS:

The annual incidence of ovarian tumors was 2.2/100,000 females. Median age at presentation was 13.0 years (range 0.9-15.7), similar in both the 33 (73%) girls with a benign tumor and the 12 (27%) girls with a malignant tumor. The tumors with the highest propensity to metastasize (yolk sac tumors, mixed germ cell tumors, small cell carcinoma) were only found in girls > 9 years. Elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein and CA 125 values associated more often with malignant tumors (p < 0.001 and p < 0.031, respectively). There were no deaths or local recurrences. Four girls with a mature teratoma developed a contralateral benign ovarian tumor during follow up.

CONCLUSIONS:

Both benign and malignant ovarian tumors are rare in the pediatric population, but the incidence increases with age. High alpha-fetoprotein and CA 125 levels were associated with malignant tumors. The prognosis of the pediatric ovarian tumors seems to be favorable.

• Authors: Seppo Taskinen, Riitta Fagerholm, Jouko Lohi, Mervi Taskinen
• Journal: Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica (Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand) Vol. 94 Issue 4 Pg. 425-9 (Apr 2015) ISSN: 1600-0412 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25640522 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2015 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Chemical References

• AFP protein, human
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• CA-125 Antigen
• Chorionic Gonadotropin
• alpha-Fetoproteins

Topics

• Adolescent
• Age Distribution
• Age of Onset
• Biomarkers, Tumor (blood)
• CA-125 Antigen (blood)
• Child
• Chorionic Gonadotropin (blood)
• Databases, Factual
• Female
• Finland (epidemiology)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Incidence
• Ovarian Neoplasms (blood, epidemiology, pathology, surgery)
• Ovariectomy
• Prognosis
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome
• alpha-Fetoproteins (metabolism)