A Clinico - Pathological Study of Ovarian Lesions

Abstract

Ovarian lesions frequently form a pelvic mass and are associated with abnormal hormonal manifestations. Clinically and surgically they potentially mimic ovarian neoplasms but pathologically they can be classified into non neoplastic cysts, inflammation and neoplasms. Objective of the study was to determine the nature, frequency and distribution of ovarian lesions and to correlate their clinical findings with the histo-pathological features. The specimens of ovary from 150 patients were subjected to critical gross as well as histo-pathological study. Routine paraffin sections with H & E were seen. The clinical as well as histological findings were compiled on proforma and subjected to analysis. A total of 150 cases of non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions were included. Non-neoplastic were more common (60%) than neoplastic lesions (40%). The commonest non-neoplastic lesion was luteal cyst followed by follicular cyst and endometriosis. Among the neoplastic tumours, 75% were benign; 1.66% borderline and 23.34% malignant. Surface epithelium tumours formed the maximum number followed by germ cell and sex cord stromal tumors. Only 1 case (1.67%) of non-ovarian metastatic (Krukenberg tumour) tumor was diagnosed. Benign serous cysts were the commonest benign tumours and serous cystadenocarcinoma was the commonest malignant tumour. Single case of borderline malignancy was included in the surface epithelial tumors category. Ovarian lesions pose many challenges. Gross features provide useful diagnostic clues. A specific diagnosis can usually be made on routinely H & E stained slides.

Keywords

Endometriosis, Krukenberg tumour, ovarian tumours, serous cystadenocarcinoma

Introduction

Ovary is normally a partially cystic structure and the risk of carcinoma developing in these cysts is negligible [1]. Various inflammations of ovary are non-specific inflammation, granulomatous infections, autoimmune oophoritis and eosinophilic perifolliculitis. Intrinsic inflammations of the ovary (oophoritis) are uncommon, usually accompanying tubal inflammation. Rarely, a primary inflammatory disorder involving ovarian follicles (autoimmune oophoritis) occurs and is associated with infertility [2]. Ovarian tumours arise from a) surface epithelium b) the germ cells c) stroma of the ovary [2]. Based on the histological cell of origin, a morphological classification of ovarian tumours - Primary and secondary (metastatic) or benign, borderline and malignant is recognised by International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) and World Health Organisation (WHO) [3,4]. Of all the primary ovarian tumours about 70 to 80% are of epithelial origin (80% benign and 20% malignant), 10% of stromal origin and 5% of germ cell origin while remainder fall into other groups [5]. Carcinoma of the ovary ranks third among female genital carcinomas, occurring next to cervix and endometrium in frequency. [6] The ovarian cancer accounts for 3% of all malignancies and 6% of deaths from cancer in women, and almost one third of invasive malignancies of the female genital organs. [7] With the exception of germ cell tumours and special sex cell tumours (which predominate in prepubertal children and young adults), most of the primary ovarian neoplasms are commonly found in the women aged 40-60 years. Benign tumours and tumours with low malignant potential peak usually between 20-40 years; whereas invasive carcinoma are seen more frequently between 50-70 years. [8] Most of the ovarian tumours are non-functional and tend to produce relatively mild symptoms until they reach a large size. Malignant tumors have usually spread outside the ovary by the time a definitive diagnosis is made. Some of these tumors, principally epithelial tumors, tend to be bilateral. gastrointestinal tract symptoms like abdominal pain , distension, urinary complaints due to compression by the tumor or cancer invasion, and vaginal bleeding are the most common symptoms. The benign forms may be entirely asymptomatic and occasionally are found unexpectedly on abdominal or pelvic examination or during surgery [4]. The ovary may be the site of primary disease as well as of disseminated lymphoma. The carcinoma of the ovary, thus being a silent lesion and the site of this ovarian tumour renders it inaccessible to simple methods of anatomical diagnosis such as smears, biopsy and curettage. It warns us to beware of ovarian neoplasia-benign or malignant. [9]

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted on 150 resected specimen of ovaries received in the department of pathology, Government Medical College, Patiala. These included surgically resected ovaries, either as a part of total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophectomy or as a clinically diagnosed ovarian lesions. Specimens were fixed in 10% formalin, grossly examined; paraffin sections & slides were prepared and stained with haematoxylin and eosin & some special stains. After this sections were examined under light microscope and correlated with histopathological findings.

Results

Out of the total 150 cases studied, 60 (40%) cases were ovarian tumours and 90 (60%) cases were non neoplastic lesions (Table-1). Among non neoplastic lesions corpus luteal cyst was more common comprising of 48 cases; 53.33% of total non neoplastic lesions. Second highest group was follicular cyst having 30 cases; 33.33% of total neoplastic lesions. About 12 cases of endometriosis; 13.34% was noted (Table-2). Majority of the non neoplastic lesions were unilateral cystic tumours and all the lesion were below 10 cms in size. Non neoplastic lesions occurred in all age group, in present study majority of the incidence of non neoplastic lesion were seen in the age group of 20-39 years of age group (Table-3).

Table 1: Distribution of Ovarian Tumour and Tumour like Lesions

Table 2: Show Mode of Presentation of Non Neoplastic Lesions

Table 3: Show Age-Wise Distribution of Non Neoplastic, Tumour like Ovarian Lesions

Majority of the tumours were benign constituting 75%, followed by malignant 23.34% and borderline tumours 1.66% (Table-4).The mode of presentation of neoplastic lesions were abdominal mass in (69.33%) followed by abdominal pain (33.3%), postmenopausal bleeding (13.33%), Abnomal bleeding per vaginal (8.33%) ascites (3.33%) and low backache (1.67%) (Table-5) The surface epithelial tumours formed the largest group (71.66%) followed by germ cell. tumours (23.33%), stromal tumours (3.34%) metastatic tumours (Krukenberg tumour) were 1.67% (Table-6). Bilaterality was found in 6 cases (10%) of which papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma was the most common tumour noted. The tumours varied in size. The largest tumour was malignant mixed germ cell tumour measuring 26x24x20 cm and smallest tumour was benign mucinous cystadenoma measuring 3x2x2 cm. The commonest surface epithelial tumours were Serous cyst adenomas (31.66%) followed by mucinous cystadenoma (26.67%). The occurrence of malignancy was seen more in serous tumours (5%) as compared to mucinous tumours (3.33%). One cases of endometrioid carcinoma was noted. Mature cystic teratoma was the commonest histological type among germ cell tumours. One case of mixed germ cell tumour was noted having a rare combination of immature teratoma and yolk sac tumour. The group of Sex-cord stromal tumour was having one case of granulosa cell tumour diagnosed as malignant granulosa cell tumour. Under metastatic group of tumours; one case of Krukenberg tumour comprising of 1.67% of all ovarian tumours. Patient had bilateral solid ovarian tumours (Table-7).

Table 4: Distribution of Benign, Borderline and Malignant Ovarian Neoplasms

Table-5: Show Mode of Presentation of Neoplastic Lesions.

Table 6: Show Histological Types of Neoplastic Lesions

Table 7: Show Detailed Morphological Analysis of Ovarian Neoplasms

Discussion

According to this study 75% were benign, 1.66% borderline and 23.34% malignant. This is in concordance with the study of Couto et al [10] and Maheshwari et al [11].

Present study is in concordance with Pilli et al12 and Ramachandra et al [13] where incidence of ovarian neoplastic lesions was more common in 21-40 years of age group. Kar et al [14] reported high incidence of ovarian tumours in 41-60 years age group.

The present study examines behavioral and cognitively-based quit processes among daily smokers who drink heavily, and sought to determine whether these processes differentially influence cigarette and alcohol use.

Hypothesis 1: Main effects

Our first hypothesis was partially supported. Quit methods was not significantly associated with substance use, and this is contrary to what was expected (H1a). Further, BCS was associated with increased drinking, which was also unexpected (H1b). Previous work has not shown significant associations between smoking-related BCS and alcohol outcomes [20,21], and thus we had not predicted that this relationship would emerge. This finding may support the perspective that among co-occurring substance users, barriers to quitting one substance (cigarettes) may pose difficulties to quitting a different substance (alcohol). The relationship between RFQ and substance use (H1c) was somewhat complex. RFQ predicted marginal reductions in the number of cigarettes smoked per day, whereas RFQ was associated with increases in drinking frequency. This may imply a parallel recognition of the need to change problematic behavior and may provide support for the notion that individuals who use substances at higher levels may also have more RFQ due to salience of health problems. An alternative explanation for the positive association between RFQ and drinking is that perhaps having many reasons for smoking cessation might increase cognitive load or stress linked with quitting, and individuals may attempt to fill the cigarette “void” by turning to another substance (alcohol). The latter explanation is somewhat troublesome, as it may provide evidence for the perspective that among co-users, quitting one substance may heighten the risk of using the other substance at increased levels. Generally, these findings imply that cognitive-based smoking processes are relevant to concurrent substance using individuals and this warrants further investigation.

In the present study, the majority of benign tumours occurred in the age group of 21-40 years. This finding is consistent with the studies by Randhawa15 and Ramachandra et al [13].

In the present study 54% were unilateral and 10% were bilateral. This is in concordance with the study of Couto et al [10]

Present study is concordant with studies by Gupta et al [16] and Misra et al [17] and with Couto et al [10] which showed high incidence of malignant tumour having more number of tumours with solid and mixed consistency.

Majority of the benign lesions (86%) in the present study were cystic in consistency. And majority of malignant lesions (57.14%) were having mixed consistency. This result is concordant with studies by Gupta et al16 and Misra et al [17].

According to the present study the most common symptom with which the patients presented was abdominal mass followed by abdominal pain. This is in concordance with the study of Couto et al [10] and Maheshwari et al [11].

Among the individual tumours, the commonest benign epithelial tumours were serous cystadenoma (31.66%), followed by mucinous cystadenoma (26.67%).Among malignant epithelial tumours, serous cystadenocarcinoma (5%) was the most common, and followed by Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. Similar findings were seen in studies by Maheshwari et al [11] and Gupta et al [12].

This study accounted for 19 cases (31.66%) of serous cystadenoma which is low in incidence as compared to studies by Misra et al [17] and Maheshwari et al [11] which reported a higher incidence of serous cystadenoma, that is, 49% and 46.01%, respectively.

Peak age of occurrence of serous cystadenocarcinoma were seen in 5^th to 6^th decade of life in present study, a finding similar to that of Pilli et al [12].

Mucinous cystadenoma accounted for 16 cases (26.67%) out of 60 cases of neoplastic lesions. Similar findings have been reported by Prabhakar et al [18] (18%) and Maheshwari et al [11] (13 %).

Two cases of mucinous cystdenocarcinoma were reported in present study. The other authors like Maheshwari et al [11], Pilli et al [12] and Prabhakar et al [18] showed an incidence of 0.25 %, 4%, and 5% respectively.

There was 1 case of Endometrioid carcinoma (1.67%), similar incidence was seen in studies by Prabhakar et al [18] (1.1%). Studies by Maheshwari et al [11] and Dawar [19] showed higher incidence (3.65% and 5.7% respectively).

There was one case of granulosa cell tumour accounting 1.67% of total neoplastic lesions. Incidence was slightly less compared to the study done by Ramachandra et al [13] with granulosa cell tumour accounting for 2.7%.

Mature cystic teratoma, most common germ cell tumour, accounted 15% of total neoplastic lesions and 64.29% among germ cell tumours.

Studies by Tyagi et al [20], Gupta et al [16] and Couto et al [10] which showed an incidence of 18.46%, 23.13 % and 15.45% respectively among total neoplastic tumours.

There was one case (1.67%) of malignant mixed germ cell tumour with a rare combination of yolk sac tumour and immature teratoma Studies by Prabhakar et al [18] and Gupta et al [16] showed incidence of 0.78% and 0.59% of malignant mixed germ cell tumours in their studies.

One case of Krukenberg tumour was detected in a female aged 36 years, accounting 1.67% of total neoplastic lesions. Tumour was confined to both the ovaries. Studies by Misra RK et al [17], Prabhakar et al [18], Couto et al [10] showed an incidence of 1.07%, 1.57% and 1.46% respectively which is concordant with present study.

Conclusion

Effective therapeutic management of ovarian malignant tumours continues to be a challenge to the oncologist. An accurate histopathological diagnosis combine with clinical staging will help in rendering prompt and appropriate treatment to the patient.

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