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Pathology - Ovarian carcinomas
Definition: A collection of malignant epithelial tumors originating in the ovary.

Epidemiology • Rare, however a predominant cause of cancer-related mortality owing to its delayed presentation.

Aetiology • High parity and the utilization of oral contraceptives are consistently linked to a diminished risk of ovarian cancer. • Post-menopausal women using oestrogen replacement treatment have an elevated risk. • Emerging evidence indicates that obesity correlates with an increased risk.

Carcinogenesis • Recent morphological and genetic evidence indicates that ovarian carcinomas can be classified into several types based on their probable origin and behavior. One group (low-grade serous, mucinous, Brenner) has indolent behavior and infrequently demonstrates TP53 mutations. Certain workers hypothesize that these tumors originate from paraovarian Müllerian epithelium via a progression from benign cystadenoma to borderline neoplasm to invasive carcinoma. The second category, comprising high-grade serous, high-grade endometrioid, and undifferentiated carcinomas, represents highly aggressive malignancies that often exhibit TP53 mutations. Certain workers hypothesize that these tumors may originate in other pelvic organs, such as the Fallopian tubes, and subsequently affect the ovaries. Endometrioid and clear cell ovarian carcinomas are believed to develop from ovarian endometriosis.

Presentation: stomach pain, tiredness, abdominal distension, and diarrhea. The ambiguous and nonspecific characteristics of the symptoms frequently lead women to attribute them to stress or menopause. Women who pursue medical care are frequently misdiagnosed with benign gastrointestinal or urinary disorders. Most women present with advanced disease at the time of diagnosis. Macroscopy The ovary is hypertrophied and substituted by a neoplastic tumor that is frequently both solid and cystic. Mucinous tumors may comprise gelatinous substances. Histopathology Serous carcinomas consist of malignant epithelial cells that proliferate in irregular branching papillae and create slit-like glandular gaps. Psammoma bodies may be observed.

Endometrioid carcinomas consist of malignant epithelial cells that create round or oval glands similar to those found in endometrial carcinomas. Regions of squamous differentiation are prevalent. Mucinous carcinomas consist of malignant epithelial cells characterized by mucinous cytoplasm that forms glandular structures. Differentiating original ovarian mucinous carcinoma from metastatic mucinous carcinoma originating in the gastrointestinal tract can be quite challenging. transparent cell carcinomas consist of malignant epithelial cells characterized by transparent cytoplasm and hobnailing, which proliferate in tiny tubules and papillae. Transitional cell carcinomas exhibit morphological similarities to urothelial carcinomas; however, their immunophenotypic characteristics align more closely with serous carcinomas.

Prognosis: Generally unfavorable, as the majority of women arrive with advanced disease (FIGO III and IV), correlating with a 5-year survival rate of 25–30% (in contrast to 80–90% for FIGO I or II).

FIGO staging of ovarian carcinomas
IA: tumour limited to one ovary; capsule intact, no tumour on the
ovarian surface; no malignant cells in ascites or peritoneal washings.
IB: tumour limited to both ovaries; capsule intact, no tumour on the
ovarian surface; no malignant cells in ascites or peritoneal washings.
IC: tumour limited to one or both ovaries with any of the following:
capsule ruptured, tumour on the ovarian surface, malignant cells in ascites
or peritoneal washings.
IIA: extension and/or implants on the uterus and/or tube(s); no malignant
cells in ascites or peritoneal washings.
IIB: extension to other pelvic tissues; no malignant cells in ascites or
peritoneal washings.
IIC: pelvic extension with malignant cells in ascites or peritoneal
washings.
IIIA: microscopic peritoneal metastasis beyond the pelvis.
IIIB: macroscopic peritoneal metastasis beyond the pelvis, 2cm or less
in size.
IIIC: peritoneal metastasis beyond the pelvis, > 2cm in size and/or
regional lymph node metastasis.
IV: distant metastasis



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