Low-grade ovarian cancer in an adolescent patient

Background. Ovarian tumors in the pediatric population are most likely to b e of germ cell origin. However, serous tumors have also been reported in ad olescent patients. Case. A 14-year-old girl was diagnosed with stage IIIc low-grade ovarian ca ncer, Her serum CA-125 was elevated preoperatively and was a marker for rec urrence of disease. Five months after completing standard chemotherapy, she developed recurrent disease, which progressed despite hormonal therapy. Sh e then developed toxicity on Liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil) and is now recei ving hospice care. Conclusion. Low-grade serous adenocarcinoma of the ovary can present as adv anced disease and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an ovarian mass in an adolescent patient. (C) 2001 Academic Press.