OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiologic characteristics of gynecologic mali gnancies in patients 25 years of age or younger. METHODS: The Automated Central Tumor Registry (ACTUR), the cancer reg istry for the Department of Defense, was used to identify children, adolescents, and young adults diagnosed with gynecologic malignancies. Specifically, primary ovarian, uterine, cervical, vaginal, and vulvar malignancies diagnosed between 1990 and 2002 were included in the analysis. Data from the Department of Defense tumor registry were then compared with results obtained from the national Surve illance, Epidemiology, and End Report (SEER) program database. RESULTS: Two hund red fifty-one cases were identified in the Department of Defense tumor registry . The most common primary site was ovary, with 116 cases (46%), followed by cer vix, with 108 cases (43%). The most common histological types were germ cell (3 5%) for ovary, squamous cell (52%) for cervix, choriocarcinoma (18%) for uter us, and squamous cell (30%) for vulva/vagina. The 21-to 25-year-old age grou p had the greatest number of cases for the entire cohort (23%). Most patients h ad only local disease at time of diagnosis, and the 5-year survival percentage was 86%(95%confidence interval 80-91) for all patients with ovarian and cervi cal carcinoma. Data from the SEER program demonstrated a similar distribution an d incidence pattern. CONCLUSION: The ovary and cervix are the most common primar y sites of gynecologic malignancies in patients 25 years of age or younger. Heal th maintenance programs for patients in this age group should continue to includ e pelvic exams and Pap test screening. u001a METHODS: The Automated Central Tumor Registry (ACTUR), the cancer reg istry for the Department of Defense, was used to identify children, adolescents, and young adults diagnosed with gynecologic malignancies. Specifically from primary ovarian, uterine, cervical, vaginal, and vulvar malignancies diagnosed between 1990 and 2002 were included in the analysis. Data from the Department of Defense tumor registry were then compared with results obtained from the national Surve illance, Epidemiology, and End Report (SEER) program database. RESULTS: Two hund red fifty-one cases were identified in the Department of Defense tumor registry. The most common primary site was ovary, with 116 cases (46%), followed by Cervix, with 108 cases (43%). The most common histological types were germ cells (35%) for ovary, squamous cells (52%) for cervix, choriocarcinoma The 21-to 25-year-old age grou p had the greatest number of cases for the entire cohort (23%). Most patients h ad only local disease at time of diagnosis , and the 5-year survival percentage was 86% (95% confidence interval 80-91) for all patients with ovarian and cervi cal carcinoma. Data from the SEER program demonstrated a similar distribution an d incidence pattern. CONCLUSION: The ovary and cervix are the most common primar y sites of gynecologic malignancies in patients 25 years of age or younger. Heal th maintenance programs for patients in this age group should continue to includ e pelvic exams and Pap test screening. u001a