Ovarian cancer pathophysiology

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late resulting in a poor overall outcome for the patient. Pathological findings, therefore, often only occur in advanced symptomatic onset and tend to present more as severe pathologic outcomes.

Pathophysiology

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  Photomicrograph is from the solid / papillary right ovarian tumor. As shown in this photo, much of the tumor had a papillary pattern with exuberant epithelial proliferation but no obvious stromal invasion. Other areas, such as the one depicted in the second photo, show extensive stromal invasion, the criterion upon which rests the diagnosis of frank malignancy.

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  Extensive stromal invasion, the criterion upon which rests the diagnosis of frank malignancy

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  In this TAH-BSO specimen, the right ovary (on the left of the image) has been replaced by a solid serous carcinoma. The contralateral ovarian tumor is grossly cystic and could be termed a "cystadenocarcinoma." The patient had omental metastases and positive peritoneal fluid cytology. This cancer, which was discovered at exploratory laparotomy, apparently developed very rapidly; the patient had a normal pelvic ultrasound exam only 2 months before. (Courtesy of Ed Uthman, MD)

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  Ovary: Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma: Gross, an excellent image of uterus is in picture and thus illustrates the very large size of the ovarian tumor.
  Image courtesy of Professor Peter Anderson DVM PhD and published with permission © PEIR, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pathology

Gross Patholgy

Ovarian Carcinomas Subtype	Features on Gross Pathology
ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma	Ovarian mass. Typically solid with multiple cystic areas. Often >10 cm.
ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma	Multiloculated. Sticky, gelatinous fluid (glycoprotein). +/-Necrosis. Typically unilateral.
Endometrioid carcinoma of the ovary	Usually solid and cystic.

Microscopic Pathology

Histologic subtypes of epithelial ovarian tumor

include:

• Surface epithelial stromal ovarian tumor (60-70%)

• ovarian serous tumor

• ovarian serous cystadenoma: ~60% of serous tumor
• ovarian borderline serous cystadenoma: ~15% of serous tumor
• ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma: ~25% of serous tumor; commonest malignant ovarian tumour

• ovarian mucinous tumor: ~20% of all ovarian tumor

• ovarian mucinous cystadenoma: ~80% of mucinous tumor
• ovarian bordeline mucinous cystadenoma: 10-15% of mucinous tumor
• ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma: 5-10% of mucinous tumor

• ovarian endometrioid tumour: 8-15% of all ovarian tumor
• clear cell ovarian carcinoma: ~5% of ovarian cancer
• Brenner tumour: ~2.5% of ovarian epithelial neoplasms
• squamous cell carcinoma of the ovary
• ovarian cystadenofibroma / ovarian adenofibroma: can be serous, mucinous, endometrioid, clear cell or mixed
• ovarian cystadenocarcinofibroma: extremely rare
• undifferentiated carcinoma of the ovary: ~4% of all ovarian tumor

Vulvar Carcinomas Subtype	Features on Histopathological Microscopic Analysis	Image
Ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma	Nuclear pleomorphism: Variation in size - often marked Variation in staining Variation in shape +/-Macronucleolus - key feature Eccentric nucleus Architecture: Solid Papillary - classic Glandular - uncommon +/-Psammoma bodies - uncommon +/-Necrosis - often extensive	Micrograph showing serous carcinoma in the omentum, presumed to have arisen from the ovary (ovarian serous carcinoma)
ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma	Mucinous differentiation Tall columnar cells in glands with apical mucin May have an endocervical-like or intestinal-like appearance - see subtypes Invasive morphology - one of the following: Back-to-back glands/confluent growth pattern Desmoplastic stromal response Cribriforming of glands Malignant characteristics: +/-Nuclear atypia +/-Necrosis No cilia	micrograph of a low malignant potential (LMP) mucinous ovarian tumor
Endometrioid carcinoma of the ovary	Tubular glands Cribriform pattern common May see mucinous secretion May have squamous differentiation/squamous metaplasia	Vulvar melanoma

References

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