Ovarian Cancer Flashcards
How common is ovarian cancer?
It is the fourth most common cancer in the UK
What % of deaths in women aged 40-60 years does ovarian cancer account for?
5%
What is the average age of presentation of ovarian cancer?
60 years
What other cancers can share histological features with ovarian cancer?
Fallopian tube and peritoneal cancer
How is the management of fallopian tube and peritoneal cancer similar to that of ovarian cancer?
They are treated with a similar approach
What appears to protect against the development of ovarian cancer?
Suppressed ovulation
Give two examples of things that suppress ovulation
- Prolonged breastfeeding
- High-oestrogen OCP
What % of women with ovarian cancer have a positive family history?
Up to 7%
What is the risk of ovarian cancer in patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome?
10%
What are the well recognised familial patterns occur in ovarian cancer?
- Hereditary breast/ovarian cancer families
- Lynch type II families
What mutations do hereditary breast/ovarian cancer families have?
BRCA1 or BRCA2
What cancers are lynch type II families at increase risk of of?
- Ovarian
- Endometrial
- Colorectal
- Gastric
What mutations do lynch type II families have?
Mutations in mismatch repair enzymes
What kind of cancer is most common in the ovary?
Epithelial tumours
What % of ovarian cancers are epithelial tumours?
90%
What histological class of cancer do epithelial ovarian tumours include?
Adenocarcinomas
What are the potential histological appearances of adenocarcinomas of the ovary?
- Serous
- Mucinous
- Endometrioid
- Clear cell
- Squamous cell
What are the other, rarer types of ovarian tumours?
- Germ cell tumours
- Carcinosarcomas
- Sex cord tumours
In what ways to ovarian germ cell tumours resemble testicular germ cell tumours?
In histology and clinical management
What are the features of carcinosarcomas?
- Aggressive
- More susceptible to haematogenous spread
What kinds of tumours does ovarian sex cord tumours include?
- Granulosa cell tumours
- Thecomas
- Sertoli-Leydig cell tumours
- Gonadoblastomas
What do sex cord ovarian tumours occasionally produce?
- Oestrogens
- Androgens
What can oestrogens produced by sex cord ovarian tumours cause?
- Precocious puberty
- Postmenopausal bleeding
What can androgens produced by sex cord ovarian tumours cause?
Virilisation
What are the symptoms of early stage ovarian cancer?
Asymptomatic in the majority of cases
When do most women with ovarian cancer present?
When they have advanced disease
What are the symptoms of advanced ovarian cancer?
- Vague abdominal discomfort
- Bloating
- Altered bowel habit
- Nausea and vomiting
- Backache
- Weight loss
What % of women with ovarian cancer present with advanced disease that is stage 3-4?
70%
Can ovarian cancer cause vaginal bleeding?
It is uncommon, and more likely to be Fallopian tube cancer
When is it important to consider and exclude ovarian cancer?
In a woman presenting with recent chance in bowel habit, or with vague abdominal symptoms
What systemic presentations of ovarian cancer are associated with more advanced disease?
- Pleural effusions
- Ascites
- Malignant bowel obstruction
- Thromboembolic phenomenon
How are umbilical peritoneal deposits from ovarian cancer metastasis sometimes seen?
As Sister Mary Joseph nodules
What are Sister Mary Joseph nodules?
Palpable nodules bulging from the umbilicus
What does the presence of Sister Mary Joseph nodules indicate?
Indicates transcoelomic spread and stage 4 disease
What lymph nodes should be checked in ovarian cancer?
- Neck
- Supraclavicular
- Axillary
- Inguinal
- Para-aortic
What should be looked for on cardiovascular examination in ovarian cancer?
- Pericardial effusion
- Loud P2
What might cause loud P2 on cardiovascular examination in ovarian cancer?
Pulmonary hypertension or PE
What should be looked for on general observation in ovarian cancer?
- Viralisation
- Ascites
- Cachexia
- Signs of dehydration
What should be looked for on skin examination in ovarian cancer?
Dermatomyositis
What should be looked for on genitourinary examination in ovarian cancer?
- Haematuria
- PV discharge/bleeding