Background: Dysgerminoma is a subtype of malignant germ cell tumor of the ovary found in young and adolescent girls. Chronic abdominal pain and a rapidly growing abdominal mass is the usual presentation. Case: A 20-year-old nullipara presented with 7 month history of abdominal pain and a rapidly growing abdominal mass. Misdiagnosis at a peripheral clinic and the myth that evil powers had been responsible for patient's ill health caused a delay in initiating prompt and appropriate management. Results: She had fertility-conserving surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. She did well and was subsequently placed on monthly follow up visits. Conclusions: Early detection and treatment are important to good prognosis. Therefore, education, public health education, and reduction of extreme poverty and cost of hospital services will promote better health-seeking behavior in patients in sub-Saharan Africa. (J GYNECOL SURG 28:382)
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
JagannathJB, AshokSM. Ovarian germ cell tumour: A 3 years study. J Obstet Gynaecol India, 2005; 15:61.
2.
GershensomDM. Management of early ovarian cancer: Germ cell and sex cord stroma tumours. Gynecol Oncol, 1994; 55:62.
3.
Quero-HernándezA, Estrada-CorreaR, Tenorio-RodríguezH, Alvarez-SolísRM. Management of early ovarian tumours, clinical characteristics, treatment and outcomes. Cir Cir, 2007; 75:81.
4.
Miedzińska-MaciejewskaM, BobkiewiczP, GawrychowskiK. Malignant ovarian germ cell tumours-Clinical characteristics and analysis of outcomes. Ginekol Pol, 2011; 82:338.
5.
DemeterA, CsapóZ, SzánthóA, BálegaJ, SiposN, PappZ. A retrospective study of 27 ovarian tumours of low malignant potential. Eur J Gynaecol Oncol, 2002; 23:415.
6.
AyhanA, CelikH, TaskiranC, BozdagG, AksuT. Oncologic and reproductive outcome after fertility saving surgery in ovarian cancer. Eur J Gynaecol Oncol, 2003; 24:223.
