Ovarian teratomas in children. A thirty-three year experience.

During the thirty-three years from 1941 through 1973, forty-two children with ovarian teratomas were seen. The most common complaint was that of abdominal pain and the most common physical finding was palpable lower abdominal mass. Thirty-seven patients had ovarian teratomas with nature tissues only. Of these, two patients have been lost to follow-up and the remainder are alive and well. One patient had teratoma containing mature and immature tissues (embryonic); this patient has remained well since operation. Four patients had malignant teratoma. Of these, two patients are dead due to the tumor and the two are living and well for six and nine years, respectively.