Ovarian cancer Flashcards
Which cells do the ovarian cancers arise from?
- Surface epithelial cells
- Germ cells
- Sex cord-stromal cells
What are the risk factors of ovarian cancer?
- Old age
- Nulliparity
- Family history (BRCA1, BRCA2 mutation, HNPCC)
*OCP use reduces it by 50%
What are the different types of surface epithelial cell tumours?
Serous tumour Mucinous tumour Endometrioid tumour Clear cell tumour Brenner tumour
Describe characteristics of surface epithelial cell tumours.
Age is the most important risk factor.
With repeated ovulation and scarring, surface epithelium is pulled together and cysts form, which undergoes metaplasia and dysplasia leading to epithelial tumours. They have tumours of low malignant potential (less likely to turn malignant).
What is serous tumour?
Most frequent type of ovarian tumour, 60% found to be benign. They are characterised by tall columnar epithelium lining the cysts.
What is mucinous tumour?
Epithelial cells contain mucin-containing cells similar to endocervical mucosa (squamous columnar). 80% are benign.
What is endometrioid tumour?
It can be solid or cystic. It projects as a mass from the wall of endometriotic cyst filled with chocolate-filled fluid. They are malignant.
What are teratomas?
Teratomas refer to germ-cell origin tumours. There is increased likelihood of malignancy.
There is differentiation of totipotential germ cells into mature tissues of germ cell layers: ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. They are unilateral most often, and filled with sebaceous secretion with matted hair. There is teeth protrusion.
How is ovarian cancer treated?
It is treated according to its staging levels.
Lower stages would include chemotherapy.
Higher stages, 2, 3 and 4 would require surgical removal of the mass on the ovaries (and other anatomical structures if necessary), cytoreduction and adjuvant chemotherapy.
