Growing teratoma syndrome of the ovary: a case series.

BACKGROUND

Growing teratoma syndrome (GTS) is a rare clinical phenomenon characterized by an enlarging tumor during or after completion of therapy for a germ cell tumor.

CASE PRESENTATION: We report two Black African females, aged 10 and 12 years, with an initial diagnosis of malignant ovarian tumor with elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and B-human chorionic gonadotropin (B-HCG). After initiation of chemotherapy, the tumors progressed while the tumor markers continued to decline. Subsequent removal of the tumors showed mature teratoma with no malignant components.

CONCLUSION

GTS is often mistaken for disease progression. High index of suspicion is required when an abdominal germ cell tumor progresses on therapy with declining tumor markers.