Dysgerminoma
title: "Dysgerminoma" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["gynaecological-neoplasia", "germ-cell-neoplasia"] topic_path: "philosophy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysgerminoma" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox medical condition (new)"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Dysgerminoma |
| image | Dysgerminoma, high mag.jpg |
| caption | Micrograph of a dysgerminoma, H&E stain. |
| field | Oncology, gynecology |
| :: |
| name = Dysgerminoma | image = Dysgerminoma, high mag.jpg | caption = Micrograph of a dysgerminoma, H&E stain. | pronounce = | field = Oncology, gynecology | synonyms = | symptoms = | complications = | onset = | duration = | types = | causes = | risks = | diagnosis = | differential = | prevention = | treatment = | medication = | prognosis = | frequency = | deaths = A dysgerminoma is a type of germ cell tumor; it usually is malignant and usually occurs in the ovary.
A tumor of the identical histology but not occurring in the ovary may be described by an alternate name: seminoma in the testis or germinoma in the central nervous system or other parts of the body.
Dysgerminoma accounts for less than 1% of ovarian tumors overall. Dysgerminoma usually occurs in adolescence and early adult life; about 5% occur in pre-pubertal children. Dysgerminoma is extremely rare after age 50. Dysgerminoma occurs in both ovaries in 10% of patients and, in a further 10%, there is microscopic tumor in the other ovary.
Abnormal gonads (due to gonadal dysgenesis and androgen insensitivity syndrome) have a high risk of developing a dysgerminoma. Most dysgerminomas are associated with elevated serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), which is sometimes used as a tumor marker.
Signs and symptoms
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Dysgerminoma_surgery.jpg" caption="Excision of a dysgerminoma"] ::
They are exceptionally associated with hypercalcemia. On gross examination, dysgerminomas present with a smooth, bosselated (knobby) external surface, and are soft, fleshy and either cream-coloured, gray, pink or tan when cut. Microscopic examination typically reveals uniform cells that resemble primordial germ cells. Typically, the stroma contains lymphocytes and about 20% of patients have sarcoid-like granulomas. Metastases are most often present in the lymph nodes.
Diagnosis
LDH tumour markers is elevated in 95% of the cases.
Image:Dysgerminoma,_intermed._mag.1.jpg|Dysgerminoma characterized by uniform cells separated by fibrous septa with lymphocytes, H&E stain. Image:Dysgerminoma,_low_mag.2.jpg|Low-power view of a dysgerminoma infiltrating the colonic wall, H&E stain.
Treatment
Dysgerminomas, like other seminomatous germ cell tumors, are very sensitive to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. For this reason, with treatment patients' chances of long-term survival, even cure, is excellent. Targeted treatments for dysgerminomas that do not respond to chemotherapy are being evaluated.
References
References
- (June 2007). "Dysgerminoma in three patients with Swyer syndrome". World Journal of Surgical Oncology.
- {{DorlandsDict. three/000033062. dysgerminoma
- Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 18th ed. Chapter 553. Question 11, Gynecologic Problems of Childhood
- (May 2020). "Molecular Pathways and Targeted Therapies for Malignant Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors and Sex Cord-Stromal Tumors: A Contemporary Review". Cancers.
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