Dysgerminoma Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prognosis, Tumor Markers

Learn all about dysgerminoma symptoms, causes, treatment, prognosis and tumor markers

Dysgerminomas occur most often in the ovaries, but they may also occur in other areas of the body, including the central nervous system. Some dysgerminomas make a hormone called beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) that may cause signs and symptoms of disease.

It is a type of cancer that begins in germ cells in females. Germ cells are cells that form sperm in males or eggs in females. Dysgerminomas tend to grow and spread slowly. They are the most common type of ovarian germ cell tumor. They usually occur in teenage girls or young women.

Abdominal symptoms including pressure, pain, pelvic pressure, low back discomfort, mild nausea, feeling full early when eating, constipation and gas are all non-specific in nature. In their early manifestations they are asymptomatic.

The incidence of dysgerminomas has remained unchanged over the last 30 years. The frequencies of the most common malignant ovarian neoplasms in women of reproductive age are as follows: epithelial tumors (42%); dysgerminoma and other germ cell tumors (GCTs) (30%); metastatic Krukenberg tumors (14%); and sex cord stromal tumors (ie, Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors) (13%).

What is Dysgerminoma?

Dysgerminoma is the most frequent malignant germ cell tumor of the ovary. Dysgerminomas are generally solid and large with a white surface and are plain or irregular. When dissected, they look white and homogeneous and sometimes have necrotic areas.

Dysgerminoma Symptoms

Dysgerminoma are almost totally symptoms free or asymptomatic in the early stages. Abnormal bleeding during menstruation should raise alarm and suspicion but again non-specific. The symptoms can be summarized as:

Asymptomatic in early stages of growth and development
Pelvic pain
Excessive and abnormal bleeding during menstruation
Dysuria
Increased frequency of urination
Mild abdominal symptoms
Pelvic mass or Pelvic fullness

Dysgerminoma Causes

The exact cause of Ovarian Dysgerminoma is unknown; however they are thought to occur if the Germ

Cells that escape encapsulation from the Ovarian Follicle fail to die. The other causes include:

Genetic defects like presence Y chromosome in females or presence of isochromosome 12p, amplification in the region of short arm of chromosome 12 and mutations in the exon 17 of CD117
Individuals with the family history of ovarian cancers are at increased risk of Dysgerminoma of the Ovary
Radiation exposure
Chemical exposure
Certain food
Foreign body
Pesticides
Exposure to carcinogens in cigarette smoke
Prior history of Chemotherapy for different malignancy.

Dysgerminoma Treatment

Dysgerminoma treatment is of various types. These tumors are highly treatable and respond well to chemotherapy and radiation particularly when these treatments are done together (chemotherapy can shrink the tumor, but it is recommended that radiation be given to the patient, as well). The tumor may metastasize, or spread, to the liver, lungs, lymph nodes, or bones. Women with stage I dysgerminoma often undergo surgery that isolates the mass as much as possible in order to preserve their fertility. This procedure, along with aggressive follow-up care, improves their prognosis considerable. There are different types of treatment for patients with ovarian germ cell tumors.

Four types of standard treatment are used:

Surgery
Observation
Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy

New types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials.

High-dose chemotherapy with bone marrow transplant
Follow-up tests may be needed.
Unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: A surgical procedure to remove one ovary and one fallopian tube.
Total hysterectomy: A surgical procedure to remove the uterus, including the cervix. If the uterus and cervix are taken out through the vagina, the operation is called a vaginal hysterectomy. If the uterus and cervix are taken out through a large incision (cut) in the abdomen, the operation is called a total abdominal hysterectomy. If the uterus and cervix are taken out through a small incision (cut) in the abdomen using a laparoscope, the operation is called a total laparoscopic hysterectomy.
Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: A surgical procedure to remove both ovaries and both fallopian tubes.
Tumor debulking: A surgical procedure in which as much of the tumor as possible is removed. Some tumors cannot be completely removed.

Dysgerminoma Prognosis

Dysgerminoma prognosis of 5-year is 96% if the tumor is confined to the ovary and 63% if extension occurs beyond the ovaries. Pregnancy does not alter the prognosis of most ovarian malignancies, but complications such as torsion and rupture may increase the incidence of spontaneous abortion or preterm delivery. Prognosis of dysgerminoma depends on;

The stage of the tumor
The type of tumor
The size of the tumor
Age of the individual
Overall health of the individual
Tumor stage at detection
Location of tumor
Number of masses of tumors within the ovary
Presence of metastasis and the organs involved with metastasis
Its ki-67 value – a protein found in cells that is a good indicator of how fast the tumor cells are growing. The ki-67 value is determined by a pathologist and is usually mentioned in the pathology report
Patient’s response to treatment such as chemotherapy
Patient’s response to treatment such as radiation therapy