Rare malignant gynaecologic tumours

Malignant rare gynaecologic tumours account for less than 2% of all female cancers. The knowledge of their specificity in terms of diagnosis and treatment is critical however, as the outcome of these patients is usually favourable when they are adequately treated. In addition, conservative surgery can be performed in most of the cases allowing preservation of fertility in this population of patients who are often young and at an early stage of the disease. To improve the quality of management of these patients with rare gynaecologic tumours, the French National Cancer Institute has selected three reference centres (centre Leon-Berard, Lyon, hopital Hotel-Dieu, Paris, l'institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif) and assigned them to elaborate guidelines, collect the cases within a website (www.ovaire-rare.org), organize specific pathologic panels and stimulate the research on this condition.