A histological study of ovarian tumors in different age groups

Abstract

Background: Tumours are the most common type of lesion encountered in the ovary. With exception of these neoplasms, the ovary appears remarkably resistant to disease. There are numerous types of ovarian tumours, both benign and malignant. About 80% are benign and these occur mostly in younger women between the ages 20 and 45 years. The malignant tumours are more common in age groups between 40 and 65. Aims & Objective: To study the histopathology of ovarian tumors in different age groups. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included all consecutive cases with histopathologically proven ovarian tumors, reported from Department of Pathology of N.H.L Municipal Medical College. These included those patients who were operated at V.S Hospital or were operated somewhere else but the specimen was processed in Department of Pathology of N.H.L Municipal Medical College, irrespective of the surgical procedure by which tumor was removed. World Health Organization classification of ovarian tumors was used for classifying the tumors. Hematoxylin and eosin is the routine method for histological study. Hematoxylin is used to define the nucleus by its blue-black colour and its finer details. Commonly used Eosin is Eosin \'Y\'. Results: Out of 100 ovarian tumors included, 73% were benign and 27% were malignant. Surface epithelial tumors were most common (59%), followed by germ cell tumors (14%). Benign surface epithelial tumors comprised 80% (59/73) of all benign tumors whereas their malignant counterpart formed 70.37% (19/27) of all malignant tumors. Conclusion: Benign tumors are more common than malignant ones for all age groups. Surface epithelial tumors are most common class of tumors in both benign and malignant tumours. Serous cystadenoma is the most common ovarian tumor overall as well as most common benign tumor whereas serous cystadenocarcinoma is most common malignancy. Malignant ovarian tumors are more common above 40 years.