Laparoscopic uncontained power morcellation-induced dissemination of ovarian endodermal sinus tumors: A case report

BACKGROUND: Endodermal sinus tumors (ESTs), which arise primarily in children and adolescents, account for 20% of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors, but constitute only 1% of all ovarian malignancies. Treatment of ESTs consists of surgical staging with fertility-sparing surgery and chemotherapy. CASE SUMMARY: A 15-year-old nulliparous patient was diagnosed with disseminated ovarian ESTs after laparoscopic unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy using uncontained power morcellation for treatment of a ruptured solid adnexal mass in another hospital. Exploratory laparotomy; total abdominal hysterectomy, right salpingo-oophorectomy, and lymphadenectomy were performed with optimal debulking, and surgical stage 3C was assigned to the patient. CONCLUSION: In 2014, the Food and Drug Administration noted that power morcellation was probably associated with a risk of disseminating suspected cancerous tissue. Furthermore, the use of power morcellation to remove solid adnexal mass is considered a contraindication because of the potential for a malignant tumor. This case report aims to warn of the dangers of using uncontained power morcellation to treat solid adnexal masses.