[Primary combined chemotherapy following removal of an endodermal sinus tumor or yolk-sac tumor of the ovary (author's transl)].

The yolk-sac tumor or endodermal sinus tumor is a rare but highly malignant ovarian teratoma with its highest incidence in young women. The tumor is relatively resistant to radiotherapy but sensitive to combined chemotherapy and should therefore be differentiated in the diagnosis from embryonal carcinoma and radio-sensitive dysgerminomas of the ovary. It is possible that the determination of alpha-fetoprotein is of differential diagnostic value. Two patients are alive and well 8 months and 2 1/2 years following removal of a yolk-sac tumor and primary chemotherapy. One patient received chemotherapy for peritoneal recurrence after removal of the tumor and radiotherapy. She died 1 1/2 years following the primary operation. Long term chemotherapy of the yolk-sac tumor is indicated following operation, irrespective of the stage of the tumor.