Prognostic significance of glioblastoma element in ovarian immature teratoma.

A case of ovarian immature teratoma containing glioblastoma element with increased serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is demonstrated. In spite of a series of postoperative chemotherapeutic programs reported to be effective against gonadal germ cell tumors, the patient's condition continued to worsen even though the level of AFP had decreased to the normal range after the first line therapy with vincristine, actinomycin D and cyclophosphamide. The serum AFP titer in this case was unreliable as a tumor marker. Histologic examination of recurrent and metastatic tumors obtained at autopsy showed that other teratomatous tissues were widely infiltrated by a proliferated glioblastoma element. When considering the prognosis of ovarian immature teratoma, it is important to realize the aggressive potential of glioblastoma multiforme as a component.