Final answer:
A teenage patient with an adnexal mass and increased alpha-fetoprotein and lactate dehydrogenase levels is likely to have a germ cell tumor of the ovary. Germ cell tumors produce markers like AFP, which are indicative of the tumor type and help guide diagnosis and further evaluation.
Step-by-step explanation:
A teenage patient presenting with an adnexal mass and labs showing increased alpha-fetoprotein and/or lactate dehydrogenase should raise suspicion for a germ cell tumor of the ovary. Germ cell tumors are known to secrete markers such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and can also present with elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The re-expression of fetal antigens like AFP in these tumors mimics fetal cells, hence the production of these markers. Epithelial cell tumors, sex cord-stromal tumors, and metastatic tumors generally do not secrete AFP.
The presence of an ovarian tumor is concerning and requires further evaluation with imaging and possibly a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis and to plan appropriate treatment. When a medical professional encounters elevated markers such as AFP, it often points to specific tissue being involved, which in the context of an ovarian mass, suggests a germ cell tumor.