Although the remarkable progress in the pathology of ovarian germ cell tumors which was achieved during the preceding three decades did not proceed at the same rapid pace during the 1980s, the past decade not only witnessed the accumulation of new knowledge, but was also characterized by the consolidation, expansion, and wider application of the knowledge gained previously. These developments were accompanied by further advances in the therapy of this group of neoplasms. The use of efficacious combination chemotherapy has led to a spectacular improvement in the prognosis of patients with some of the most malignant types of ovarian germ cell neoplasms. In addition a number of substances which have proven themselves as tumor markers in some types of germ cell neoplasms became an integral part in the investigation and follow-up of patients with malignant germ cell tumors.