Sonographic diagnosis of ovarian dysgerminoma in children

Since ovarian dysgerminoma is the most radiosensitive of all pediatric ovarian tumors, and is thus potentially curable if diagnosed early, it is incumbent upon the radiologist to aid the pediatric surgeon in reaching a prompt diagnosis. In the literature, dysgerminoma has been described as a solid mass, occasionally containing calcifications. We have not, however, encountered a report of the preoperative sonographic diagnosis of this disorder. This report describes a girl with dysgerminoma initially diagnosed by ultrasound and presents the gray-scale sonographic features which may point to the correct diagnosis. Differential diagnostic considerations are also discussed.