HISTOPATHOLOGICAL SPECTRUM OF OVARIAN TUMORS: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Surface epithelial ovarian tumors was the most common category of ovarian tumors followed by germ cell tumors, sex cord stromal tumors and metastatic tumors in decreasing order of frequency. Incidence of benign tumors was much higher than malignant tumors with benign serous cystadenoma being the most common benign tumor and serous cystadenocarcinoma being the most common malignant tumor. Reproductive age group showed higher incidence of ovarian tumors whereas there was increasing incidence of malignancy with increasing age group. Exception to this was the higher incidence of malignant germ cell tumors in adolescent age group. Although nulliparity and low parity showed higher risk of malignancy, early menarche did not reveal any signicant increase in malignancy. Pain in abdomen was the most common symptom whereas ascites was more commonly seen with malignant tumors. Menstrual complaints were observed more commonly with tumors with functional stroma with possible role of hormonal inuence. Benign tumors showed cystic morphology and there was signicant increase in incidence of malignancy in tumors with complex or solid morphology. Thus age more than 50 years, post menopausal age group, solid and complex tumor morphology, presence of ascites, nulliparity or low parity and bilaterality of tumors signicant increased incidence of malignancy and thus these parameters can be used to predict the risk of malignancy in ovarian tumors. This was a descriptive study and analysis of data was done using chi square test and logistic regression analysis