Role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the maintenance of fertility on young patients with ovarian yolk sac tumor

WU Yuzhong; PENG Surong; CHEN Xiaoxiang; SHEN Yang

Abstract：Objective To explore the indications, methods and role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of the young patients with ovarian yolk sac tumor who had the desire of maintaining fertility. Methods The retrospective analysis was based on 7 cases with ovarian yolk sac tumor treated with neoadjuvant chemotherary followed by interval preservative operation from 1996 to 2010. Results Two cases were in stage ⅢA2 and another five cases were in stage ⅢC. The reasons of neoadjuvant chemotherary for these cases were poor general condition and serious electrolyte disorder for one case, massive hydrothorax for two cases, extensive me?tastasis on the surface of intra?abdominal and pelvic organ for two cases, fixed pelvic tumors and massive ascites for another two cases. All these cases after neoadjuvant chemotherary underwent fertility?saving surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and their residual disease were small than 1 cm. Five among 7 patients have been alive up to now and one case was lost to follow?up. Another case re?ceived second operation because of recurrence on two years after the first surgery, but she was died because of recurrence again one year later. Three cases among those five cases had successful deliveries. The 5?year survival rate of 7 patients was 71?4%( 5/7) . Con?clusion Neoadjuvant chemotherary is a better treatment option for some patients with ovarian yolk sac tumor who hope to maintain fer?tility function, because the tumor status and general condition of the patients can be improved significantly after neoadjuvant chemother?ary.