Mixed germ cell tumor of the ovary with rhabdomyosarcomatous component. A case report

Malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary are rare representing 3% of all ovarian neoplasms. Hence, they are the most common ovarian malignancy in girls and young women and account for approximately two-thirds of the ovarian cancers that occur in the first two decades of life. Germ cell tumors constitute a heterogeneous group of tumors and are often mixed associating at least two different tumoral components. Exceptionally, sarcomatous areas can be found. We present a case of a 15-year old girl admitted for a voluminous left ovarian mass revealed by pelvic pain. Pathological examination of the dissected material revealed the tumor to be a mixed germ cell tumor (immature teratoma and yolk sac tumor) with rhabdomyosarcomatous component of embryonal type. Clinico-pathological characteristics of such ovarian tumors will be discussed with emphasis on diagnostic difficulties.