THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF CYTOTOXIC COMBINATION CHEMOTHERAPY IN OVARIAN "MATURE" TERATOMA

: Unintentionally, a mature ovarian teratoma was treated by cytotoxic chemotherapy from an early stage. In spite of the normal appearance of the left ovary at the time of the first operation on the right ovarian immature teratoma, a cystic tumor was found in the left ovary after ten courses of postoperative multi-drug (vincristine, actinomycin D and cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy. This neoplasm was enucleated from the left ovary and was confirmed histologically to be a fully mature teratoma at the time of the second look operation, although no recurrent or implanted lesions of immature tissues were revealed at that time. From these findings, it was supposed that the cytotoxic regimen did not affect the development of the mature teratoma. When considering the therapeutic significance of cytotoxic chemotherapy in the management of teratoma, it is important to realize the intractable nature of the mature elements as a factor resistant to cytotoxic methods.