[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [General pathology](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/) › [Female genital tract](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/areas/female-genital/) › Malignant ovarian germ cell tumours

# Malignant ovarian germ cell tumours

- Lesion

Fast-growing ovarian cancers of girls and young women; each makes its own blood marker, and most can be cured with surgery and chemotherapy.

Updated Nov 12, 2026

## Key points

- Dysgerminoma: commonest malignant germ cell tumour; sheets of large clear cells with glycogen, fibrous septa with lymphocytes, granulomas; KIT, OCT3/4, SALL4; LDH raised; very good prognosis.
- Dysgerminoma and gonadoblastoma in dysgenetic gonads with a Y chromosome (Swyer, Turner mosaicism): gonadectomy is advised.
- Yolk sac tumour: Schiller–Duval bodies (glomerulus-like papillae with a central vessel), eosinophilic hyaline globules; AFP raised.
- Non-gestational choriocarcinoma: cyto- and syncytiotrophoblast, hCG; less chemosensitive than the gestational form.
- Embryonal carcinoma: primitive large cells, CD30 positive; usually part of a mixed germ cell tumour.

On this page

- The basics Key points
- What it is
- Structure
- Step by step
- Malignant ovarian germ cell tumours and their markers
- Markers
- Memory aid
- Elsewhere in DurgiPedia

- Clinical Clinical notes

- Study Test yourself

- Connections Connections

## What it is

Malignant germ cell tumours are rare and mostly affect girls and young women. Dysgerminoma is the ovarian counterpart of testicular seminoma, made of large clear cells with lymphocytes in the septa, and it is linked to dysgenetic gonads that carry a Y chromosome. Yolk sac tumour secretes alpha-fetoprotein and forms Schiller–Duval bodies. Non-gestational choriocarcinoma, embryonal carcinoma and mixed tumours are rarer. These tumours grow quickly, but they are highly chemosensitive and the serum markers track their response.

## Structure

- Dysgerminoma: solid, soft, grey-white to tan lobulated tumour; uniform cells with central nuclei and clear cytoplasm in nests separated by lymphocyte-rich septa.
- Yolk sac tumour: varied patterns (reticular, microcystic, papillary); Schiller–Duval bodies and hyaline globules.
- Choriocarcinoma: haemorrhagic tumour with sheets of trophoblast and no villi.
- Mixed tumours: several germ cell components, each to be reported because they change treatment.

## Step by step

- A primordial germ cell, or its precursor in a dysgenetic gonad, fails to differentiate normally.
- Retaining stem-cell programs (OCT3/4, NANOG), it grows as dysgerminoma.
- Cells that differentiate toward yolk sac, trophoblast or embryonic tissue form the other malignant types.
- Each line secretes its characteristic marker into the blood, which falls with successful treatment.

## Malignant ovarian germ cell tumours and their markers

| Tumour | Testicular counterpart | Hallmark | Serum marker |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Dysgerminoma](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/ovarian-germ-cell-and-sex-cord-stromal-tumours/) | Seminoma | Clear cells, lymphocytes in septa | LDH (sometimes low hCG) |
| [Yolk sac tumour](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/ovarian-germ-cell-and-sex-cord-stromal-tumours/) | Yolk sac tumour | Schiller–Duval bodies, hyaline globules | AFP |
| [Choriocarcinoma (non-gestational)](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/ovarian-germ-cell-and-sex-cord-stromal-tumours/) | Choriocarcinoma | Trophoblast, haemorrhage, no villi | hCG |
| Embryonal carcinoma | Embryonal carcinoma | Primitive cells, CD30 | AFP and hCG may rise |
| [Immature teratoma](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/ovarian-germ-cell-and-sex-cord-stromal-tumours/) | Teratoma | Immature neuroepithelium | Usually none |

## Markers

- OCT3/4, SALL4, KIT (dysgerminoma)
- Glypican-3 and AFP (yolk sac)
- hCG (choriocarcinoma)
- CD30 (embryonal carcinoma)

## Clinical notes

- Present as a rapidly enlarging, painful pelvic mass in a girl or young woman, sometimes with torsion or rupture.
- Fertility-sparing surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy cures most patients.
- A primary amenorrhea with a dysgerminoma suggests a disorder of sex development with a Y chromosome.

## Memory aid

The ovary's seminoma is the dysgerminoma: clear cells in a lymphocyte fence, counted by LDH.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## What is the ovarian counterpart of testicular seminoma?

Dysgerminoma.

## What is a Schiller–Duval body?

A glomerulus-like structure with a central blood vessel covered by tumour cells, typical of yolk sac tumour.

## Which serum marker is followed in a yolk sac tumour?

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).

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[More Pathology questions →](https://durgical.com/en/practice/?f=pathology)

## Elsewhere in DurgiPedia

- [Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/topics/alpha-fetoprotein/)
- [Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as a lab marker](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/topics/lactate-dehydrogenase-as-a-lab-marker/)
- [Tumour markers: principles of use](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/topics/tumour-markers-principles-of-use/)
- [Differences of sex development: CAH, AIS and 5α-reductase](https://durgical.com/en/embryology/differences-of-sex-development-cah-ais-and-5-reductase/)

## Connections

## Related 9

- [Ovarian teratomas](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/ovarian-teratomas/)
- [Ovarian tumours: classification](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/ovarian-tumours-classification/)
- [Other sex cord–stromal tumours](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/other-sex-cord-stromal-tumours/)
- [Choriocarcinoma and trophoblastic tumours](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/choriocarcinoma-and-trophoblastic-tumours/)
- [Seminoma and spermatocytic tumour](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/seminoma-and-spermatocytic-tumour/)
- [Nonseminomatous germ cell tumours](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/nonseminomatous-germ-cell-tumours/)
- [Testicular germ cell tumours: overview](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/testicular-germ-cell-tumours-overview/)
- [Tumour markers: serum and tissue, and what each one is for](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/tumour-markers-serum-and-tissue-and-what-each-one-is-for/)
- [Sex chromosome disorders: Klinefelter and Turner](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/sex-chromosome-disorders-klinefelter-and-turner/)

## Related conditions 4

- [Ovarian germ-cell and sex cord–stromal tumours](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/ovarian-germ-cell-and-sex-cord-stromal-tumours/)
- [Turner syndrome](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/turner-syndrome/)
- [Androgen insensitivity syndrome](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/androgen-insensitivity-syndrome/)
- [Ovarian torsion](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/ovarian-torsion/)

[← All of general pathology](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/)

Educational content on the mechanisms of disease; not a diagnostic or treatment guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version](https://www.cancer.gov/types/ovarian/hp/ovarian-germ-cell-treatment-pdq) (National Cancer Institute, 2026).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/malignant-ovarian-germ-cell-tumours/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/malignant-ovarian-germ-cell-tumours/