Germ cell tumors account for approximately 5 percent of all ovarian malignancies. They almost always occur in women of reproductive age and are frequently found in women in their teens or twenties. Many types of germ cell tumors are extremely aggressive, fast-growing malignancies. In the past they were often fatal within one or two years even though frequently confined to one ovary at the time of diagnosis. With surgery and modern multi-agent chemotherapy , the cure rate is higher.
Types There are six main cell types: dysgerminoma, endodermal sinus tumor, embryonal carcinoma , choriocarcinoma , immature teratoma and mixed germ cell tumors.
There are also rare cell types such as struma ovarii, carcinoid and malignant transformation of a benign dermoid.
How It Spreads Ovarian germ cell tumors can spread directly to the adjacent pelvic organs and through the lymph system to the pelvic, aortic, chest (mediastinal), groin and neck lymph nodes . They may also spread to the surfaces of the abdominal cavity and to distant organs such as the liver, lungs and brain. ( See Diagram in Cervical Cancer )
