RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to review the incidence, clinicopathological feature, treatment, outcome in the series of childhood and adolescence with ovarian mass PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective reviews of the medical recordings for 116 patients with ovarian mass under the age of twenty years old who were admitted, operated and confirmed with histopatholgical study at the department of obstetric and gynecology, Gachon medical school, Inchon, Korea for 8 years from Jan. 1993 till Dec. 2000. RESULTS: Of 116 the patients who underwent surgical treatment, the incidence of malignant ovarian tumors was 15 cases(12.9%). If ovarian neoplasm alone are considered, the rate of malignancy increases to 17.6%. The frequency of ovarian malignancies correlated inversely with patient age. In the 0-10 age group ,40% had malignancies, as compared with 20.3% in the 11-15 age group and 15.3% in the 16-20 age group. On histopathological classification, the tumors originated from germ cell tumors were 55.2%, epithelial cell tumors were 40%, and sex-cord stromal tumors were 4.7%. According to FIGO classification of malignant ovarian tumor, stage I(80%) was most common, followed stage IV(13.3%), stage II(6.6%) and III(0%). 13 of the 15 malignant ovarian tumors, unilateral salpingoophorectomy was done in an attempt for reproductive organ conservation; 2 cases of stage IV disease were treated with hystrectomy, bilateral salpingoophorectomy and omentectomy. On follow up, only two ovarian malignancy stage IV died within 3 months and another is well. CONCLUSION: The frequency with which ovarian meoplasms malignancy in the under 20 age group is 17.6%. Because of their malignant potential in young girl, prompt evaluation and treatment is imperative.