Clinico-pathologic Features of Germ Cell Tumours of the Ovary in Gombe, North-East Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Germ cell tumours are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms derived from primitive germ cells of the embryonic gonads. They mainly affect the young, reproductive population, hence the need to report and state their
characteristic features for a better understanding of this important disease entity. In this study, we describe the clinicopathologic features of these tumours in patients presenting to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe.
Methodology: This was a 10-year retrospective descriptive study where clinicopathologic data on histologically diagnosed germ cell tumours were retrieved from the records of Department of Histopathology. They were classified according to the 2020 WHO classification of ovarian tumours.
Results: Germ cell tumours constitute 40.4% of all ovarian tumours. Benign cases represent 83.6%, while 16.4% were malignant. Mature cystic teratoma was the most common type, while dysgerminoma was the commonest
malignant tumour. The modal age group was 21-30 years. These patients presented with varying symptomatology of unilateral tumours with different sizes.
Conclusion: Mature teratoma is the most common germ cell tumour while dysgerminoma is the most common malignant counterpart. Common clinical presentations are abdominal swelling and pain.