Morphological Patterns of Ovarian Neoplasms in Different Age Groups - A Center based study

Aim: To study the morphological patterns of ovarian tumors received in the department of Pathology, BMSI, JPMC over a period of five years. Background: The most common type of lesions encountered in the ovary include functional or benign cysts and ovarian tumors. Ovarian tumor accounts for 6% of all cancers in the female population. Mature cystic teratoma is the most common germ cell tumor of ovary occurring at any age with a peak incidence in the first two decades of life. Malignant transformation of a mature cystic teratoma is an uncommon complication occurring in approximately 1-3% of mature cystic teratomas. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at the department of Pathology, BMSI, JPMC and all ovarian specimens received over a period of five years i.e., January 2008 to 31 December 2009 were received. All specimens were formalin fixed, routinely processed for paraffin embedding, sectioned and finally stained with haematoxylin and eosin using standard procedures. Results: During the study period, a total of 1075 ovarian specimens were received out of which the ovaries of 508 cases were unremarkable. Out of remaining 567 cases 209(52.7%) were non neoplastic and 237(22%) were neoplastic lesions. Out of the neoplastic lesions, 185(17.2%) cases were benign tumors. The malignant lesions comprised of 2(. 18%) immature cystic teratomas, 27(2.5%) mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, 23(2.1%) serous cystadenocarcinomas and 4(0.37%) were granulosa cell tumors. There was a rare case of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma arising from mature cystic teratoma in a 31 year old female. Conclusion: We conclude that the commonest malignant tumor was mucinous cystadenocarcinoma followed by serous cystadenocarcinomas. We also suggest that all teratomas showing an overwhelming mucinous component should be thoroughly sampled and reviewed in order not to miss the diagnosis of malignancy and to avoid a misdiagnosis of mature teratomas.