Juvenile granulosa cell tumour (JGCT) of the ovary in a 6-year-old girl: Laparoscopic resection achieves long-term oncological success

Juvenile granulosa cell tumours (JGCT) represent a rare malignancy in childhood and their laparoscopic resection has not been advocated yet. We report on a 6-year-old girl with signs of precocious pseudo-puberty and an abdominal tumour. Work-up revealed premature thelarche, vaginal discharge, elevated estrogen levels, and a solid tumour in the lower pelvis (6 x 4 x 3 cm in MRI). The girl underwent laparoscopy (3 ports, 5-mm instruments), during which a non-invasive, mobile tumour of the left ovary was found. Since all margins of resection could be clearly identified, salpingo-oophrectomy was performed, using the harmonic scalpel for dissection and 5-mm clips to ligate the fallopian tube. Histopathology revealed a JGCT with an intact capsule (FIGO 1 a) which required no further chemotherapy. Within 3 months postoperatively the girl's signs of precocious puberty had resolved and at present, after a follow-up of more than 3 years, there is no evidence of tumour recurrence. Minimally invasive surgery of solid ovarian tumours in children remains controversial. However in the present case, laparoscopic resection did not compromise the surgical and oncological safety.