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Ovarian Tumors

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Pediatric Surgery

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Abstract

The wide spectrum of ovarian lesions in infants and children and rarity of some tumors can present a challenge for diagnosis and management. Management approaches must take into account the differences between pediatric and adult tumors. In children, the distribution of tumor types is markedly different; tumors often present at a less advanced stage, and most have a more favorable natural history and response to therapy. Advances in imaging techniques over a decade have led to earlier and more common detection of non-neoplastic lesions, while progress in biochemical, immunohistology, and cytogenetic technology has resulted in more readily diagnosed neoplastic lesions. Surgical staging with histologic confirmation must be done to supplement the clinical assessment of disease status, and precise staging is based on clinical examination, surgical exploration, tissue histology, and fluid cytology. Staging of epithelial ovarian cancer is performed at the time of surgery using the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system. Pediatric germ cell tumors are staged according to the system established by the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). The uncommon nature of ovarian neoplasms increases the value of evaluation and treatment protocols developed from multi-institutional collaborative studies. The overall goal of surgery in children is to evaluate the extent of disease, completely resect the tumor, and spare all uninvolved reproductive organs. Preservation of reproductive potential is a high priority. Laparoscopic procedures confer benefits including shorter recovery time and briefer hospital stays when indicated and done by experienced surgeons. This chapter will focus mainly on the diagnosis and management of the most frequently seen neoplastic ovarian lesions in children.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lester Martin Professor of Surgery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Daniel von Allmen

  2. Hirikati S. Nagaraj Professor, Division Director Pediatric Surgery, University of Louisville, Kosair Children’s Hospital, Louisville, KY, USA

    Mary E. Fallat

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  1. Daniel von Allmen
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  2. Mary E. Fallat
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Correspondence to Daniel von Allmen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Our Lady’s Children's Hospital, National Children’s Research Centre, Dublin, Ireland

    Prem Puri

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von Allmen, D., Fallat, M.E. (2020). Ovarian Tumors. In: Puri, P. (eds) Pediatric Surgery. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38482-0_153-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38482-0_153-1

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