Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Malignant Transformation Within Ovarian Dermoid Cysts: an Audit of Treatment Received and Patient Outcomes. an Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group (ANZGOG) and Gynaecologic Cancer Intergroup (GCIG) Study
  1. M. Corona Gainford, MBBCh BAO, MSc, MRCP*,
  2. Anna Tinker, MBBCh BAO, MSc, MRCP,
  3. Jonathan Carter, MBBCh BAO, MSc, MRCP,
  4. Edgar Petru, MBBCh BAO, MSc, MRCP§,
  5. Jim Nicklin, MBBCh BAO, MSc, MRCP,
  6. Michael Quinn, MBBCh BAO, MSc, MRCP,
  7. Ian Hammond, MBBCh BAO, MSc, MRCP**,
  8. Laurie Elit, MBBCh BAO, MSc, MRCP††,
  9. Miriam Lenhard, MBBCh BAO, MSc, MRCP‡‡ and
  10. Michael Friedlander, MBBS, FRACP, PhD§§
  1. *ANZGOG Coordinating Centre, NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia;
  2. BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada;
  3. Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia;
  4. §Medical University, Graz, Austria;
  5. Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia;
  6. Royal Women's Hospital, Carlton, Victoria, Australia;
  7. **King Edward Memorial Hospital, Subiaco, Perth, Western Australia;
  8. ††Juravinski Cancer Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;
  9. ‡‡Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ludwig Maximilians University, Campus Grosshadern, Munich, Germany; and
  10. §§Prince of Wales and Royal Women's Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia.
  1. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Michael Friedlander, MBBS, FRACP, PhD, Prince of Wales and Royal Women's Hospital, High St, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia. E-mail: m.friedlander{at}unsw.edu.au.

Abstract

Introduction: Malignant transformation in an ovarian dermoid cyst occurs in 1% to 2% of cases. Our knowledge about this tumor type is limited and largely based on case reports. We aimed to collate and analyze the cumulative experience of how these patients have been managed in an effort to identify the most appropriate treatment strategies.

Methods: A survey was sent to the members of the Gynaecologic Cancer Intergroup. Data collected included age, symptoms, stage, extent of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy details, response to treatment, progression, survival, and salvage therapy.

Results: Data on 33 patients whose conditions were diagnosed between 1979 and 2007 were received from 10 centers in Australia, Canada, Germany, and Austria. The mean age was 49 years. All 15 patients with stage I disease and most of the patients with stages II and III were optimally debulked. Four patients with stage I disease had fertility-sparing surgery with good outcomes. Chemotherapy was not routinely given after surgery and did not seem to be effective. Platinum-based regimens were most commonly used. At relapse, 2 patients had a sustained remission after secondary surgery for relapsed disease. Second-line chemotherapy and radiotherapy were infrequently prescribed. Patients with stage I disease had a good outcome, with all but 2 alive and well at a minimum of 12 months of follow-up.

Conclusions: Most patients undergo optimal debulking surgery. Fertility-sparing surgery may be a reasonable option in selected patients. Stage I patients have a good prognosis. There is no standard adjuvant treatment, but platinum-based regimens are most commonly used. However, regardless of treatment received, patients with advanced disease do poorly.

  • Ovarian dermoid cyst
  • Malignant transformation
  • Treatment

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.