CONSERVATIVE MANAGEMENT OF AN OVARIAN POLYEMBRYOMA

Background: Polyembryomas are rare, immature germ cell malignancies ch aracterized by numerous embryo-like bodies in association with mature and immature teratoma structures and primitive embryonic tissue. The p urpose of this paper is to present a patient in whom surgical staging and postoperative serial tumor markers and imaging studies were used t o determine management. Case: A 43-year-old woman with a stage IA poly embryoma was followed with serial alpha-fetoprotein and hCG assays, as well as serial abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (CT) scans, f ollowing surgical staging and a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilat eral salpingo-oophorectomy. Chemotherapy was not given because the pat ient's tumor markers declined steadily into the normal range and imagi ng studies revealed no evidence of recurrent disease. Conclusion: Wome n with polyembryomas surgically staged and confined to one ovary may b e followed with serial tumor markers and diagnostic imaging techniques to avoid aggressive cytotoxic chemotherapy.