Treatment of ovarian cancer in young women.

Ovarian cancer accounts for approximately 22,000 cases annually in the United States. Although the vast majority of ovarian cancers occur in postmenopausal women and are of advanced stage, a significant subset occurs in young women. Among those subtypes having a predisposition for young women are malignant ovarian germ cell tumors, sex cord-stromal ovarian tumors, and tumors of low malignant potential. However, invasive epithelial ovarian cancers may also occur in young women, particularly the subtypes of low-grade serous carcinoma and mucinous carcinoma. This article details the diagnosis and optimal treatment of ovarian cancers subtypes in young women.