Follow-up Outcomes of Patients Presenting With Ovarian Masses in Childhood: A 15-Year Single-center Experience.

Abstract

Objective: Ovarian tumors in childhood are rare. This study aimed to examine the clinical characteristics of pediatric patients presenting with ovarian masses.

Materials and methods: A retrospective review of patient data was conducted for patients who presented to our clinic with an ovarian mass between 2009 and 2024.

Results: The study included 85 patients treated for ovarian masses in our clinic. The mean age of the patients was 12.2±4.6 (range: 0 to 18) years. The mean size of malignant tumors was 12.1±7.2 cm, and that of benign tumors was 10.74±7 cm ( P =0.43). On the basis of operation type, the mean tumor size in patients who underwent oophorectomy was 12.66±7.2 cm, compared with 8.59±6.15 cm in those with a cystectomy ( P =0.017). Histopathologic examination reported 54.1% (n=46) of tumors as benign, 32.9% (n=31) as malignant, 5.9% (n=5) as borderline, and 3.5% (n=3) as non-neoplastic lesions. Germ cell tumors were the most common, constituting 67.1% (n=57) of cases, followed by epithelial tumors at 22.4% (n=19). Synchronous bilateral ovarian tumors were identified in 4 cases. Chemotherapy was administered to 32.9% (n=28) of the patients. The mean follow-up period was 45 (1 to 204) months. A recurrence was observed in 1 patient, followed up with a diagnosis of immature teratoma. Two patients (2.4%) died, 1 due to acute renal failure and the other due to sepsis.

Conclusions: Ovarian tumors in childhood are rare and have high treatment success rates. Further research is needed to improve ovary-preserving surgical approaches and mitigate the side effects of chemotherapy.