General
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Ovary is most common site of germ cell tumors in females
20-30% of ovarian tumors are germ cell tumors
Germ cell tumor histogenesis varies depending on neoplastic transformation of germ cells into either mature or embryonal (multipotential) cells

Terminology
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Sudden onset abdominal pain, abdominal enlargement
Most present as large (mean 16 cm) unilateral mass, except for dysgerminoma (15% bilateral)
Frequency of germ cell tumors that are malignant: 1/3 of childhood tumors, 75% of tumors in women < age 30 years; 3% of tumors in Western countries, 30% of tumors in women of color or Asian ancestry
60-75% are diagnosed at stage I at diagnosis; 25-35% at stage III
Resemble germ cell tumors in testis
95% are dermoid cyst or mature teratoma - rarely contain immature or primitive malignant elements, usually in older patients
8-10% of malignant germ cell tumors are mixed (2+ types of germ cell tumor) - most common subtype has dysgerminoma and yolk sac tumor (endodermal sinus tumor)
Survival: 95% disease free survival due to chemotherapy with bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin

Sample tumors extensively
Record relative amount of microscopic components of each element in a mixed type germ cell tumor

12 year old girl with systemic mast cell disease 3 months after chemotherapy (Hum Pathol 1998;29:1546)

Surgical cytoreduction, followed by chemotherapy using platinum based regimen with bleomycin, etoposide or other options according to current theory

End of Ovary tumor > Germ cell tumors > General