Dysgerminoma

Dysgerminomas are the ovarian counterpart of testicular seminoma. Dysgerminomas are the second most common ovarian germ cell tumor and the most common malignant germ cell tumor. They are most commonly seen in girls and young women in the 2nd and 3rd decades of life.

The majority of tumors are pure dysgerminomas, which do not secrete any hormones. About 5%, however, contain syncytiotrophoblastic giant cells and produce β−hCG.

Dysgerminomas are multilobulated, usually unilateral, solid masses that can contain speckled calcifications (pink arrow), prominent fibrovascular septa, and central low-attenuation areas representing necrosis and hemorrhage (white arrow).

The differential diagnosis for ovarian neoplasms with calcification was covered earlier.

References

• Jung SE, Lee JM, Rha SE, Byun JY, Jung JI, Hahn ST. CT and MR imaging of ovarian tumors with emphasis on differential diagnosis. Radiographics. 2002 Nov-Dec;22(6):1305-25
• Shanbhogue AK, Shanbhogue DK, Prasad SR, Surabhi VR, Fasih N, Menias CO. Clinical syndromes associated with ovarian neoplasms: a comprehensive review. Radiographics. 2010 Jul-Aug;30(4):903-19.