Pathology of malignant ovarian germ cell tumours

Abstract

Germ cell tumours of ovary (GCT) are rapidly growing neoplasms derived from pleuripotent primordial germ cells. They comprise 15–20% of all ovarian neoplasms of which 95% are mature cystic teratomas and 5% are malignant ovarian germ cell tumours (MOGCT). MOGCT continues to be the cause of diverse, diagnostically challenging issues for the pathologist, and they are academically interesting because of the biological diversity exhibited by these tumours in the two gonads (testis and ovaries). Their correct diagnosis often has major important therapeutic and prognostic implications. This review intends to provide a refresher and update on the diagnostic aspects MOGCT including clinical, morphological, immunocytochemical and where relevant the molecular features. Somatic malignancies with a germ cell components and the use of new pluripotency markers that have improved diagnostic accuracy have also been included.