Ovarian masses in children

We evaluated the outcome of children with ovarian mass operated on at our C enter over an 8-year period. Thirty-four girls aged 1 day to 17 years were included in the study, Mean duration of follow-up was 39.5 months. Eighteen had a nonneoplastic mass and 16 a neoplastic mass, eight of which were mal ignant. Patients with a malignant turner underwent adnexectomy of the affec ted side and appendectomy, without removal of the uterus or the other ovary and without partial omentectomy; only the one girl with bilateral malignan t disease had bilateral adnexectomy, Five of the eight patients with malign ant disease received chemotherapy. All patients are alive with no evidence of disease. Pediatric ovarian masses are rare but have a relatively high ra te of malignancy. They differ from adult malignant tumors in many aspects. Conservative surgery should be applied to preserve fertility and combined, if necessary, with aggressive chemotherapy. A good prognosis may be expecte d in most cases, even with progressive disease.