title: Ovarian germ cell tumors with rhabdomyosarcomatous components and later development of growing teratoma syndrome: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Development of a sarcomatous component in a germ cell tumor is an uncommon phenomenon. Most cases reported have a grim prognosis. Growing teratoma syndrome is also an uncommon phenomenon and occurs in approximately 2% to 7% of non seminomatous germ cell tumors and should be treated surgically.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a 12-year-old Asian girl with an ovarian mixed germ cell tumor containing a rhabdomyosarcomatous component. She was treated with a germ cell tumor chemotherapy regimen and rhabdomyosarcoma-specific chemotherapy. Towards the end of her treatment, she developed a retroperitoneal mass that was increasing in size. It was completely resected, revealing a mature teratoma, consistent with growing teratoma syndrome. She is still in complete remission approximately three years after presentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of rhabdomyosarcoma in a germ cell tumor should be treated by a combined chemotherapy regimen (for germ cell tumor and rhabdomyosarcoma). In addition, development of a mass during or after therapy with normal serum markers should raise the possibility of growing teratoma syndrome that should be treated surgically.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Oncology, King Hussein Cancer Center, Queen Rania Al Abdullah St,, Amman, 11941, Jordan. ujumaily@khcc.jo.
authors.forename: Usama
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Al-Jumaily
authors.forename: Maysa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Hussaini
authors.forename: Fatenah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ajlouni
authors.forename: Abdulrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abulruz
authors.forename: Iyad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sultan