Prise en charge des tumeurs germinales de l'ovaire

Ovarian non epithelial tumors are rare. Amongst them though, germ cell tumors are the most frequent ones. They are different from adenocarcinomas in many ways: the age at the time of the event is far earlier; the diagnosis can be made at a localised stage; the prognosis is generally good (providing that a well adapted treatment is being conducted); there are specific markers, as well as specific treatment modalities (such as surgery - most of the time a conservative one, and different chemotherapy protocols). Histologic classification differentiates dysgerminomas (pure ones) from non seminomatous germ cell tumors (mainly yolk sack tumors, teratomas, embryonal carcinomas, choriocarcinomas). This difference is also important on a clinical and therapeutic point of view. As a matter of fact, each tumor histologic type may have clinical, biological and/or therapeutic particularities that are important to be taken into account. The pronostic of ovarian germ cell tumors has been improved, owing to new chemotherapy protocols, especially since the use of cisplatin.