Conservative management of an ovarian polyembryoma.

BACKGROUND

Polyembryomas are rare, immature germ cell malignancies characterized by numerous embryo-like bodies in association with mature and immature teratoma structures and primitive embryonic tissue. The purpose of this paper is to present a patient in whom surgical staging and postoperative serial tumor markers and imaging studies were used to determine management.

CASE

A 43-year-old woman with a stage IA polyembryoma was followed with serial alpha-fetoprotein and hCG assays, as well as serial abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (CT) scans, following surgical staging and a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Chemotherapy was not given because the patient's tumor markers declined steadily into the normal range and imaging studies revealed no evidence of recurrent disease.

CONCLUSION

Women with polyembryomas surgically staged and confined to one ovary may be followed with serial tumor markers and diagnostic imaging techniques to avoid aggressive cytotoxic chemotherapy.