ovarian tumours

Question 1

What are the four main types of ovarian tumours?

Answer 1

The four main types of ovarian tumours are surface derived tumours, germ cell tumours, sex cord-stromal tumours, and metastasis.

Question 2

What percentage of ovarian tumours are surface derived?

Answer 2

Surface derived tumours account for around 65% of ovarian tumours.

Question 3

What is the most common benign ovarian tumour?

Answer 3

The most common benign ovarian tumour is serous cystadenoma.

Question 4

What type of cells line a serous cystadenoma?

Answer 4

A serous cystadenoma is lined by ciliated cells similar to the Fallopian tube.

Question 5

What are the characteristics of a serous cystadenocarcinoma?

Answer 5

A serous cystadenocarcinoma is often bilateral and may show psammoma bodies (collections of calcium).

Question 6

What type of cells line a mucinous cystadenoma?

Answer 6

A mucinous cystadenoma is lined by mucous-secreting epithelium similar to the endocervix.

Question 7

What is a mucinous cystadenocarcinoma often associated with?

Answer 7

A mucinous cystadenocarcinoma may be associated with pseudomyxoma peritonei, although a mucinous tumour of the appendix is the more common cause.

Question 8

What are the features of a Brenner tumour?

Answer 8

A Brenner tumour is benign, contains Walthard cell rests, has nuclei that resemble ‘coffee beans’, and is similar to transitional cell epithelium.

Question 9

Which type of ovarian tumour is more common in adolescent girls?

Answer 9

Germ cell tumours are more common in adolescent girls and account for 15-20% of ovarian tumours.

Question 10

What are the characteristics of a mature teratoma?

Answer 10

A mature teratoma (dermoid cyst) is the most common germ cell tumour and is benign. It contains ectodermal, mesodermal, and endodermal tissue.

Question 11

What is the most common malignant germ cell tumour?

Answer 11

The most common malignant germ cell tumour is dysgerminoma.

Question 12

Which syndrome is associated with dysgerminoma?

Answer 12

Dysgerminoma is associated with Turner’s syndrome.

Question 13

What tumour marker is typically secreted by yolk sac tumours?

Answer 13

Yolk sac tumours typically secrete alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).

Question 14

What histological feature is pathognomonic for yolk sac tumours?

Answer 14

Schiller-Duval bodies are pathognomonic for yolk sac tumours.

Question 15

What are the characteristics of choriocarcinoma?

Answer 15

Choriocarcinoma is a rare malignant tumour part of gestational trophoblastic disease, characterized by increased hCG levels and early spread to the lungs.

Question 16

What percentage of ovarian tumours are sex cord-stromal tumours?

Answer 16

Sex cord-stromal tumours represent around 3-5% of ovarian tumours and often produce hormones.

Question 17

What are the characteristics of a granulosa cell tumour?

Answer 17

A granulosa cell tumour produces oestrogen, leading to precocious puberty in children or endometrial hyperplasia in adults, and contains Call-Exner bodies.

Question 18

What are the characteristics of a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour?

Answer 18

A Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour is benign, produces androgens causing masculinizing effects, and is associated with Peutz-Jegher syndrome.

Question 19

What syndrome is associated with fibroma?

Answer 19

Fibroma is associated with Meigs’ syndrome (ascites, pleural effusion) and is a solid tumour consisting of spindle-shaped fibroblasts, typically occurring around menopause and causing a pulling sensation in the pelvis.

Question 20

What are the characteristics of Krukenberg tumour?

Answer 20

Krukenberg tumour is a malignant metastatic tumour from a gastrointestinal source, resulting in mucin-secreting signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma.