Growing teratoma syndrome – Case report and review of literature

Abstract

Germ cell tumors (GCT) constitute less than 3% of all ovarian cancers. These tumors occur predominantly in children and women under 30 years of age. The immature ovarian teratoma is the third commonest of the germ cell tumors following dysgerminoma and endodermal sinus tumor. The growing teratoma syndrome (GTS) is an extremely rare metastatic complication of a malignant germ cell tumor. The finding of a growing solid mass (or masses) during or after chemotherapy treatment for GCT of the ovary should raise the possibility of the growing teratoma syndrome. These lesions should be resected to confirm the diagnosis, to exclude malignancy, to relieve a possible pressure on adjacent organs and to prevent a possibility of malignant transformation in future.