[Ovarian tumors in children]. / Tumori ovarici in età pediatrica.

Ovarian tumors in children are uncommon. We reviewed all cases of ovarian tumors treated at the Department of Pediatric Surgery of Vicenza Regional Hospital from 1979 to 1994. They include 6 cases of cystic teratoma and 1 gonadoblastoma; the malignant lesions included 1 immature teratoma, 1 dysgerminoma, 1 yolk-sac tumors and 1 patient with ovarian infiltration from malignant leukemia. Only the patient with leukemia died of progression of the disease. These data show that most ovarian masses are benign. Germ-cell tumors are the most common malignancy and epithelial cell tumors are less likely. Epithelial cyst and teratomas are the most common benign lesions. Although ultrasound was 100% accurate in the diagnosis of ovarian pathology, the ultrasonogram could not distinguish between benign and malignant lesions.