Ovarian Neoplasms - Etiologies of Ovarian Cysts in Prepubertal Girls
|
Tweet
|
|
Ovarian Neoplasms
Benign Teratomas
Dermoid cysts are the most frequent neoplasms in childhood, with the mean age of diagnosis being 10 years. These are benign germinal tumors that develop slowly but they may become very large. Ultrasonography shows their heterogeneous appearance with a solid cystic component containing ectodermal tissue (skin, hair, dentin) and calcifications which are also clearly visible on plain radiographs.
Treatment consists of cystectomy and careful examination of the contralateral ovary. Monitoring by ultrasonography is continued for several years.
Juvenile Granulosa Cell Tumors
These tumors, which develop during childhood, derive from granulosa cells and tend to be of low malignity. These neoplasms manifest by precocious pseudopuberty and most of them have mixed components, both solid and liquid. Purely cystic tumors are principally virilizing granulosa cell tumors. They secrete estrogens or androgens, which accounts for the rapid appearance of pubertal signs and metrorrhagia. They are generally benign and treatment is surgical excision. Postoperative follow-up consists of ultrasonography and measurement of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin, which are specific markers of this type of tumor. Greatly decreased postoperative levels are a criterion of cure, whereas an increased level raises the fear of recurrence.
Other tumors such as sex cord-stromal and mixed germ cell tumors are very rare in childhood. They have been reported in girls with isosexual precocity, but the ultrasonographic appearance is very different with heterogeneous and solid components.
Revision date: July 4, 2011
Last revised: by Andrew G. Epstein, M.D.
 |
 |
 |
 | ||
| RELATED STORIES: | ||
| Comments | [ + Post Your Own ] |
Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.
There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]
We are pleased to let readers post comments about an article. Please increase the credibility of your post by including your full name and email.
All comments are reviewed by our editors before they are posted on the site. Just keep it clean, kids.
| Interactive Quiz: |
