germ cell tumours (less common female germ cell tumours)
Last reviewed 01/2018
Less common germ cell ovarian tumours include:
- endodermal sinus tumour or yolk sac tumour - accounts for 20% of malignant germ cell tumours; produces alpha-FP
- embryonal carcinoma - rare; produces hCG and alpha-FP
- non-gestational choriocarcinoma - rare; produces hCG
All occur in children and young women and grow rapidly. Most are unilateral.
Treatment consists of oophorectomy followed by combination chemotherapy, usually vinblastine, bleomycin and cis-platinum (VBP) or bleomycin, etoposide and cis-platinum (BEP).
The overall 5 year survival rate is about 60%.