Ovarian tumours

The article examines ovarian tumours including ovarian cancer.

An introduction to the ovary is in the ovary article, which also deals benign cysts.

What was labeled "ovarian cancer" in the past may really arise from fallopian tube. The label tubo-ovarian cancer has been advocated to address this change. These tumours are dealt with in this article.

Clinical

Gynecologists use a scoring system to help decide which patients need surgery and estimate their pre-op risk of malignancy.

Risk of malignancy index

• Abbreviated RMI.
• There are two versions.

Elements & points (RMI 2):

1. Ultrasound features.
   • Significant findings: multilocular cyst, solid component, bilateral lesions, ascites, suspected intra-abdominal metastases (one finding=1 point, two or more findings=4 points).
2. Menopause/pre-menopause status (menopausal=4 points, pre-menopausal=1 point).
3. CA-125 (blood test) in U/ml.

$RMI\ score=ultrasound\ score\ x\ menopausal\ score\ x\ CA125\ level\ [U/ml].$

Interpretation:

• RMI > 200 -- predicts malignancy.

Classification

The Latta rule of fives

Can be divided as follows:

1. Surface epithelial tumours (most common).
2. Sex cord stromal tumours (SCSTs).
3. Germ cell tumours (GCTs).
4. Metastatic tumours.
5. Rare stuff that doesn't fit in any of the above (e.g. leiomyoma, angiosarcoma, ovarian small cell carcinoma of the hypercalcemic type).

Surface epithelial tumours:

1. Serous carcinoma..
2. Endometrioid carcinoma.
3. Mucinous carcinoma.
4. Transitional cell tumours (Brenner tumour).
5. Clear cell carcinoma.

Sex cord stromal tumours:

1. Granulosa cell tumour (adult type, juvenile type).
2. Sertoli cell tumour.
3. Leydig cell tumour.
4. Fibroma.
5. Thecoma.

Germ cell tumours:

1. Dysgerminoma.
2. Endodermal sinus tumour (yolk sac tumour).
3. Embryonal carcinoma.
4. Choriocarcinoma.
5. Teratoma.

Common special tumours

Endometriosis-related tumours

Tumours associated with endometriosis:

1. Endometrioid.
2. Clear cell carcinoma.
3. Endocervical mucinous (AKA Seroumucinous type and Muellerian type).

Solid ovarian tumours

Simple version: basically anything sex cord stromal.

List:

• Brenner tumour.
• SCSTs:
  • Fibroma.
  • Thecoma.
  • Fibrothecoma.
  • Leydig tumour.
  • Sertoli cell tumour.
  • Sertoli-Leydig tumour.
  • Granulosa cell tumour.
  • Granulosa-theca cell tumour.

A morphologic approach

Where is the tumour arising?

• Central location -- think GCTs and SCST.
• Surface of ovary -- think surface epithelial tumour.
  • If no surface is apparent... possibly obliterated by tumour.

Spindle cell morphology?

• Consider sex cord stromal tumours.

Nests of cells?

• Consider Brenner tumour.

Gland-like structures?

• Endometrioid carcinoma.
• Granulosa cell tumour.

"Dirty necrosis":

• Definition: cellular debris within gland lumen.
• Characteristic of colorectal adenocarcinoma, may be absent in ovarian tumours -- limited value.

Grading of ovarian cancer

• Silverberg grading system, aka universal grading system.
• Based on pattern, cytologic atypia and mitotic rate.
• System somewhat similar to breast grading, which can be remembered as: TMN (tubular formation, mitotic rate, nuclear atypia).

Silverberg system

• Pattern:
  • Glandular = 1.
  • Papillary = 2.
  • Solid = 3.
• Cytologic atypia:
  • Slight = 1.
  • Moderate = 2.
  • Marked = 3.
• Mitoses (see note below):
  • 0-9/(0.345 x10 mm^2) = 1.
  • 10-24/(0.345 x10 mm^2) = 2.
  • >=25/(0.345 x10 mm^2) = 3.

Composite score (pattern score + cytologic score + mitotic score):

• Grade I = 3-5.
• Grade II = 6-7.
• Grade III = 8-9.

Note:

• Most resident microscopes have an eyepiece diameter of 22 mm. Thus, the approximate field diameter is 0.55 mm (22 mm/40 X = 0.55 mm), at highest magnification, and the field area is 0.23758 mm^2 (pi*(0.55/2)^2=0.23758 mm^2).
• The number of HPFs should be adjusted if the area per field is different than 0.345 mm^2.
  • If the field diameter is 0.55 mm and the sample area is 3.45 mm^2, this is equivalent to 14.52 HPFs (3.45 mm^2 / 0.23758 mm^2 = 14.52); thus, it would be appropriate to use 15 HPFs and the cut points above.

Predictive power of Silverberg grading

Good correlation with five year survival (rounded values):

• Grade I = 90%.
• Grade II = 65%.
• Grade III = 40%.

Peritoneal implants

General

Applies only to:

• Serous borderline tumour.
• Seromucinous borderline tumour.

Classification

There are two types:

1. Non-invasive implants.
   • Subdivided into:
     1. Epithelial.
     2. Desmoplastic.
2. Invasive implants -- malignant cells within the stroma.

Notes:

• Invasive implants are significant clinically.
• Non-invasive implants have little clinical significance.

Microscopic

Non-invasive implant

Features (non-invasive implant epithelial-type):

• Papillary proliferation on surface.
• +/-Smooth contoured invagination into:
  • Submesothelium.
  • Omental fat lobules.
• No "stromal response":
  • Fibrosis.
• +/-Psammoma bodies.

Features (non-invasive implant desmoplastic-type):

• Stromal reaction restricted to the:
  • Serosal surface.
  • Fibrous septae.
• +/-Psammoma bodies.

Note:

• No "destructive invasion".
  • Irregular infiltration.

Invasive implant

Features (invasive implant):

• Irregular infiltration of tumour into the submesothelial tissue - key feature - characterized by:
  • +/-Solid nests.
  • +/-Small glands +/- irregular "bridging" connections between glands - common.
• Nuclear atypia - common.
• +/-Psammoma bodies.

Stains

• Elastin stain:
  • Non-invasive implants are sit superficial to the peritoneal elastic lamina (PEL).
  • Invasive implants are deep to the PEL.

Note:

• Elastin layer is not present in the omentum.

IHC

• Elastin stain.

Staging of ovarian cancer

• The CAP protocol talks of in the pelvis and outside the pelvis - pT2 versus pT3.
• Omental involvement is considered outside the pelvis; it is pT3.

Surface epithelial tumours

Most common subtypes - in short:

• Serous:
  • Columnar cells.
  • Cilia.
  • Psammoma bodies.
  • Papillae.
• Endometrioid:
  • Tubular glands.
  • Squamous differentiation (eosinophilic cytoplasm, well-defined cell borders, +/-keratin).
• Mucinous:
  • Tall columnar cells with mucin.
  • Glands with mucin.

Where to start when considering a malignant (epithelial) tumour of the ovary:

Features	Serous	Endometrioid	Mucinous
Histology	low grade: cilia, columnar cells, psammoma bodies, papillary arch.; high grade: marked nuclear pleomorphism, prominent red nucleoli, psammoma bodies	gland forming - esp. cribriforming, endometrium-like	mucinous glands, colon-like
Differentiators	cilia, psammoma bodies	squamous metaplasia	mucin, often lack of necrosis
Associations	atrophy	endometriosis, endometrial hyperplasia	(?)
Typical age	usually 60s+	40-60	varies (?)
Grade	typically high grade	typically low grade	often low
IHC	p53 +ve (diffuse), WT-1 +ve, CA-125 +ve, D2-40 +ve	WT-1 -ve	CK7 +ve, CK20 +ve (other tumours CK7 +ve, CK20 -ve)
Main DDx	poorly diff. endometrioid	serous	metastatic tumour (usually GI)

Serous tumours - overview

General

• Most common malignant ovarian tumour.

Classification

Based on features predictive of behaviour:

• Benign.
• Borderline.
  • May have pseudostratification of epithelial cells.
  • "Usually, borderline if first impression is borderline."
• Malignant.
  • Cytologic atypia.
  • +/-Papillae.

Microscopic

Features:

• Tubal like epithelium:
  • Ciliated.
  • Columnar.
• Papillae.
• Psammoma bodies (concentric calcifications).

Note:

• In serous borderline tumours, micropapillae are thought to have significance -- assoc. with increased risk of distant recurrence - though is disputed.
• Psammoma bodies may be seen in endosalpingiosis.

Serous carcinoma of the ovary

• AKA ovarian serous carcinoma.

General

• Most common malignant ovarian tumour in the eldery.
• Poor prognosis.

Microscopic

Features:

• Marked nuclear pleomorphism:
  • Variation in size - usually marked.
  • Variation in staining.
  • Variation in shape.
• Prominent nucleolus - key feature.
• Eccentric nucleus.
• Architecture:
  • Solid.
  • Papillary - classic.
  • Glandular - uncommon.
• +/-Psammoma bodies - uncommon.
• +/-Necrosis - often extensive.

DDx:

• Clear cell carcinoma of the ovary - less nuclear size variation.
• Endometrioid carcinoma of the ovary - usu. lower grade.
• Primary peritoneal serous carcinoma - bulk of tumour in peritoneum, small ovarian tumour.
• Other non-ovarian serous carcinomas - see serous carcinoma.
• Ovarian serous borderline tumour - mild to moderate nuclear atypia, no invasion, few mitoses.

Images

• 

  Serous carcinoma - cytology. (WC)

IHC

• CK7 +ve.
• WT-1 +ve.
• CA-125 +ve.
• ER +ve.
• p53 +ve.

Others:

• HNF-1beta -ve.
  • Usually +ve in clear cell carcinoma of the ovary.

Serous cystadenoma of the ovary

• AKA ovarian serous cystadenoma.

General

• Benign.
• Very common.
• Not related to the serous cystadenoma of the pancreas.
• Thought to arise from a cortical inclusion cyst that has undergone Muellerian metaplasia - see mesothelial inclusion cyst.

Gross

• Usually unilocular.

Microscopic

Features:

• Simple epithelium with cilia - key feature.
  • Cell morphology: columnar, cuboidal or flatted.

Note:

• May have calcifications - uncommon.

DDx:

• Serous cystadenofibroma.
• Cortical inclusion cyst - see mesothelial inclusion cyst.
• Ovarian serous borderline tumour.

Sign out

OVARY, LEFT, CYSTECTOMY:
- BENIGN SEROUS CYSTADENOMA.

Ovarian serous borderline tumour

• AKA serous borderline tumour of the ovary.
• AKA serous tumour of low malignant potential of the ovary, abbreviated SLMP.
• AKA serous ovarian tumour of low malignant potential.

General

• Usually benign.
• Require long term follow-up.

Microscopic

Features:

• Cuboidal to columnar epithelium with mild to moderate atypia.
• No invasive.
• "Sparse" mitoses.
• +/-Psammoma bodies.
• +/-Micropapillary architecture - often described as a medusa head pattern.

DDx:

• Serous carcinoma of the ovary - focus a with stromal invasion >5mm (linear measurement) or > 10 mm² (area).
  • Invasive cells are "pink", i.e. have abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm,; also, cells usu. large (~2-3x size of non-invasive component), and typically have an enlarged nucleus (~2x non-invasive component).
• Clear cell carcinoma of the ovary - classically associated with endometriosis, have simpler, smaller papillae without branching.

Images:

• Serous ovarian LMP tumour (radiographics.rsna.org).

Subclassification

Typical subdivided into:

• Micropapillary serous borderline tumour.
• Typical serous borderline tumour (SBOT).

General

• Common.
• Tumours may be heterogenous; benign appearing epithelium may be beside clearly malignant epithelium.
• Good sampling of mucinous tumours, i.e. many blocks, is important to lessen the chance of undercalling them.

Subtypes

1. Endocervical type.
   • Less likely to be malignant.
   • More common than malignant type.
2. Intestinal type.
   • More likely to be malignant.
   • Goblet cells. (???)
     • One large clear apical vacuole.
   • If it doesn't look like intestine to you... it probably isn't.
   • May vaguely resemble colorectal adenocarcinoma (hyperchromatic, columnar nuclei, nuclear pleomorphism).
     • Image: [1]

Comparison of mucosa:

• Normal endocervical mucosa: endocervical mucosa (duke.edu).
• Normal gastric mucosa: gastric mucosa (WC).

Classification

• Benign. (Dx: mucinous cystadenoma or mucinous adenofibroma or mucinous cystadenofibroma)
  • Single layer of cells.
• Borderline. (Dx: mucinous tumour of uncertain malignant potential or borderline mucinous tumour)
  • Papillae.
• Malignant. (Dx: mucinous adenocarcinoma)
  • Usually intestinal subtype.

Seromucinous borderline tumour of the ovary

• AKA endocervical-type mucinous and mixed cell-type tumour.

General

• Rare.
• Associated with endometriosis.

Gross

• Mucin-filled cysts.

Image:

• Seromucinous borderline tumor of the ovary (unibas.ch).

Microscopic

Features:

1. Simple mucinous epithelium - endocervical type.
   • Tall columnar epithelium with apical pale cytoplasm.
2. Simple serous epithelium - with cilia.

Mucinous borderline tumour of the ovary

• AKA ovarian mucinous borderline tumour.
• AKA ovarian mucinous tumour of low malignant potential.

General

• Requires extensive sampling - to avoid missing an adenocarcinoma.

Note:

• The WHO prefers borderline over low malignant potential as the descriptor for these tumours.

Classification

Subdivided into:

1. Intestinal type mucinous borderline tumour of the ovary ~ 90% of cases.
2. Endocervical type mucinous borderline tumour of the ovary ~ 10% of cases.

Gross

Intestinal type mucinous borderline tumour of the ovary and endocervical type mucinous borderline tumour of the ovary:

• Complex multiloculated mass with mucin.
• Often large - may > 30 cm.

Microscopic

Intestinal type mucinous borderline tumour of the ovary

Features:

• Mucinous differentiation:
  • Tall columnar cells with apical mucin - usu. resembles gastric foveolar epithelium.
• Layering of epithelial cells (stratification).
  • Must be <= 3 cells.
• +/-Papillary infoldings.
  • Projections into the cystic space.
• +/-Mild nuclear atypia.
• +/-Mitoses (focally).

Notes:

1. Resembles a villous adenoma of the colon.
2. Borderline component must be >= 10% of the tumour.
   • Lesions with <10% borderline component are known as mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary with focal proliferation or mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary with focal atypia.

DDx:

• Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the ovary.
• Mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary.
• Mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary with focal proliferation.

Images:

• Ovarian MBT (webpathology.com).
• Ovarian mucinous borderline tumour and benign mucinous tumour (webpathology.com).

Endocervical type mucinous borderline tumour of the ovary

Features:

1. Cells with mucinous differentiation resembling endocervical epithelium:
   • Tall columnar cells with grey apical mucin.
2. Cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm - known as "pink cells".
3. Ciliated cells.

• Neutrophils associated with the epithelium/mucin - common.

Images:

• Endocervical type mucinous borderline tumour - low mag. (webpathology.com).
• Endocervical type mucinous borderline tumour - high mag. (webpathology.com).

Comparing intestinal versus endocervical

Feature	Intestinal	Endocervical
Primary mucin producing cell	clear - well-diff. component, eosinophilic (pink)	eosinophilic (pink), grey or clear
Size	tall columnar (height:width >3:1) "champagne flute"	stubby columnar (height:width <3:1)
Accompanying epithelial cells	+/-goblet cells	pink cells, ciliated cells
Other cells	none	neutrophils (intraepithelial) - common
Images	high mag. (webpathology.com)	low mag. (webpathology.com), high mag. (webpathology.com)

Sign out

OVARY AND CYST, LEFT, OOPHORECTOMY:
- MUCINOUS BORDERLINE TUMOUR, INTESTINAL TYPE, ARISING FROM A MUCINOUS CYSTADENOMA (INTESTINAL TYPE).
- OVARIAN PARENCHYMA.

Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the ovary

• AKA ovarian mucinous adenocarcinoma.
• AKA ovarian mucinous carcinoma.

General

• Malignant.
• May arise in endometriosis.
• Poor response to chemotherapy vis-à-vis serous carcinoma.

Gross

Features:

• Multiloculated.
• Sticky, gelatinous fluid (glycoprotein).
• +/-Necrosis.
• Typically unilateral.

Microscopic

Features:

• Mucinous differentiation.
  • Tall columnar cells in glands with apical mucin.
    • May have an endocervical-like or intestinal-like appearance - see subtypes.
• Invasive morphology - one of the following:
  1. Back-to-back glands/confluent growth pattern.
  2. Desmoplastic stromal response.
  3. Cribriforming of glands.
• Malignant characteristics:
  • +/-Nuclear atypia.
  • +/-Necrosis.
  • No cilia.

DDx:

• Mucinous borderline tumour of the ovary.
• Metastatic mucinous carcinoma.

Subtypes

1. Endocervical type.
   • Less likely to be malignant.
   • More common than malignant type.
2. Intestinal type.
   • More likely to be malignant.
   • +/-Goblet cells.
     • One large clear apical vacuole.
   • If it doesn't look like intestine to you... it probably isn't.
   • May vaguely resemble colorectal adenocarcinoma (hyperchromatic, columnar nuclei, nuclear pleomorphism).
     • Image: [2]

Comparison of mucosa:

• Normal endocervical mucosa: endocervical mucosa (duke.edu).
• Normal colonic mucosa: colonic type mucosa (WC).

IHC

• CK7 +ve.
• CK20 +ve.

Endometrioid carcinoma of the ovary

• AKA endometrioid ovarian carcinoma.
• AKA endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the ovary.
• AKA ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma.

General

• Associated with endometriosis, i.e. people with endometriosis are more likely to have 'em.

Gross

• Usually solid and cystic.

Image:

• Endometrioid carcinoma of the ovary (uchc.edu).

Microscopic

Features:

• Tubular glands.
  • Cribriform pattern common.
• May see mucinous secretion.
• May have squamous differentiation/squamous metaplasia (useful for differentiating from sex-cord stromal tumours and germ cell tumours). - very useful feature.

DDx:

• Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour - also has tubules.
• Serous carcinoma of the ovary.

Clear cell carcinoma of the ovary

• AKA ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma, abbreviated OCCC.
• AKA ovarian clear cell carcinoma.
• AKA clear cell adenocarcinoma of the ovary.

General

Prognosis:

• Worse prognosis versus other surface epithelial tumours.
  • Poor response to platinum-based chemotherapy.
  • ~2.5x risk for thromboembolism compared to other ovarian carcinomas.

Epidemiology:

• Asians appear to be at an increased risk.
• Thought to be related to endometrioid carcinoma.
• Association with endometriosis:
  • Increased risk of ovarian clear cell carcinoma ~ 3x.
  • Seen in 50-70% of ovarian CCC.

Gross

Features:

• Usually unilateral (unlike serous carcinoma).
• Yellow colour.

Microscopic

Features:

• Cystic/tubular architecture - important low power feature.
  • May be papillary and/or solid.
• Clear cells - cytoplasm is clear - key feature. †
• Hobnail morphology - apical surface larger than basal surface.
  • "Nuclei bulge into the lumen".
• Hyaline droplets -- common, as in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
  • Eosinophilic bodies within lumen.
  • Seen in approximately 1/4 of cases.
• Nucleoli - prominent.

Note:

• † Clear cell adenocarcinoma does not have to have clear cells. Yes, this is stupid; it is like papillary thyroid carcinoma -- which often isn't papillary -- see no truth in names.
  • The hobnail morphology is important if this is the case.

DDx:

• Serous carcinoma of the ovary - have larger papillae +/- branching +/-multilayered epithelium, more mitotic activity, more group pleomorphism.
• Serous borderline tumour of the ovary.
• High-grade endometrioid carcinoma of the ovary.
• Metatstatic clear cell carcinoma, esp. clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
• Borderline clear cell lesion of the ovary - very rare; an under sampled carcinoma considered more probable.
• Arias-Stella reaction within endometriosis.

Images

• 

  Clear cell carcinoma - very high mag. - cropped (WC)

• 

  Clear cell carcinoma - intermed. mag. (WC)

• 

  Clear cell carcinoma - low mag. (WC)

www:

• Clear cell carcinoma of the ovary - several images (upmc.edu).

IHC

• HNF-1beta +ve.
  • Usu. -ve in serous carcinoma.
• WT-1 -ve.
  • Usu. +ve in serous carcinoma.

Panel for high grade serous vs. clear cell:

• ER (+ve in serous), HNF-1beta (+ve in clear cell), WT-1 (+ve in serous).

Others:

• CK7 +ve -- may be focal.
• CK20 -ve.
• CD10 -ve.
  • Often +ve in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Transitional cell carcinoma of the ovary

General

• Rare.
• Fits into the transistional cell tumours category - in the surface epithelial group of ovarian tumours.

Microscopic

Features:

• Cystic spaces:
  • Small - punched-out border - very common.
  • Large.
• Papillae, usu. large, blunt.
  • Occasionally small and filiform.
• +/-Bizarre giant cells (35%)
• +/-Gland-like tubules.
• +/-Squamous differentiation.
• +/-Psammoma bodies.
• Cells:
  • Moderate basophilic cytoplasm and little intervening stroma.
  • Marked nuclear pleomorphism.
  • Mitoses - common.

Notes:

1. Resembles urothelial carcinoma.
2. No Brenner tumour component (benign or malignant) should be present.

Images

• 

  TCC - very low mag. (WC)

• 

  TCC - intermed. mag. (WC)

• 

  TCC - very high mag. (WC)

IHC

Features:

1. Vimentin +ve,
2. CA-125 +ve.
3. WT1 +ve.
4. CK20 -ve.
5. Thrombomodulin -ve.
6. Uroplakin III -ve.

Notes:

• 1-6 usu. opposite pattern in urothelial cell carcinoma.

Brenner tumour

General

• Fits into the transistional cell tumours category - in the surface epithelial group of ovarian tumours.

Epidemiology

• Mostly benign clinical course.
• Thought to arise from Walthard cell rest.
• Frequently an incidental finding, i.e. oophorectomy was done for another reason.
• May be malignant.

Gross

Features:

• Classically solid, well-circumscribed, light yellow.
• May be cystic.

Note:

• Borderline tumours classically solid and cystic with papillary projections into the cystic component.

Microscopic

Features:

• Nests of transitional epithelium with cells that have:
  • A "coffee bean nucleus".
    • Elliptical shape (nucleus).
    • Nuclear grooves.
    • Distinct nucleoli.
  • Moderate-to-abundant gray/pale cytoplasm.
• Dense fibrous stroma around nests.

Notes:

• Main DDx of Coffee bean nucleus = granulosa cell tumour.
• Stromal component may be predominant.

DDx:

• Ovarian fibroma.
• Thecoma.

Images:

• "Coffee bean" nuclei (WC).
• Brenner tumour - intermed. magnifiction (WC).

Germ cell tumours

Main article: Germ cell tumours

These tumour are relatively uncommon, though are the most common grouping for young women.

Overview

• Dysgerminoma (most common).
  • Female version of seminoma.
• Yolk sac tumour (endodermal sinus tumour).
• Embryonal carcinoma.
• Choriocarcinoma.
• Teratoma.
• Mixed GCT - 60% of GCTs are mixed.
  • Common combinations:
    1. Teratoma + embryonal carcinoma + endodermal sinus tumour (yolk sac tumour) (TEE).
    2. Seminoma + embryonal (SE).
    3. Embryonal + teratoma (TE).

Mnemonic: SEE CT, S=Seminoma, Embryonal carcinoma, Endodermal Sinus Tumour, Choriocarcinoma, Teratoma.

Teratoma

Main article: Teratoma

• May be benign or malignant.
• Skin component only called "dermoid".

Dysgerminoma

General

• Female counterpart of seminoma -- look the same.

Epidemiology:

• Most common GCT in females.
• Prognosis usually good.

Microscopic

Features:

• Fried egg appearance (clear cytoplasm, central nucleus).
• Nuclear membrane has "corners", i.e. is "squared-off" - or "polygonal".
• +/- Lymphocytes - often prominent.
• +/- Granulomata.

Dysgerminoma vs lymphoma:

• Dysgerminoma has "squared-off" nuclei, i.e. the nuclei look are polygonal-shaped.

• Dysgerminoma - several cases (upmc.edu).

Gonadoblastoma

Main article: Gonadoblastoma

Details dealt with in the main article.

Microscopic

Features:

• Immature germ cells resembling Sertoli cells or granulosa cells.
  • Cells with moderate cytoplasm is a trabecular or tubular architecture.
• Primitive germ cells resemble those of a dysgerminoma.
  • Polygonal cells with a central nucleus, squared-off nuclear membrane and clear cytoplasm.
• +/-Calcification (very common).

Metastatic ovarian tumours

Main article: Metastases

Generally

• Mostly Muellerian origin (uterus, fallopian tube) or pelvic peritoneum.

Extramuellerian metastatic tumours

DDx:

• Breast.
• Gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
  • Pseudomyxoma peritonei, usu. appendiceal origin.
  • Krukenberg tumour = signet ring cell cancer with mucin production of GI origin.

Microscopic

Features:

• Predominantly surface involvement and nodular at low power.
• Signet ring cells (suggestive of GI or breast primary).
• Lymphovascular invasion.

Image:

• Ovarian metastasis - low mag. (WC/Nephron).

Mucinous carcinoma - GI tract metastasis vs. primary ovarian

Gross

Features favouring metastatic disease:

• Bilaterality -- both ovaries involved.
• Small unilateral tumour size -- <10 cm = metastatic.
  • >13 cm = primary ovarian.

IHC

Ovarian tumours:

• Dipeptidase 1 (DPEP1) +ve.
• CK7 +ve.

Sex cord stromal tumours

General

• Most are unilateral.

IHC

• Most are positive for alpha-inhibin.
• Most are positive for calretinin -- considered more sensitive than alpha-inhibin.
• Melan A +ve.
• CD99 +ve.

Memory device MAC = melan A, alpha-inhibin, calretinin.

Sex cord tumour with annular tubules

• Abbreviated SCTAT.
• NOT sex cord tumour with angulated tubules.

General

• Associated with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.
  • Large tumours more likely sporadic.
  • Small tumours more likely Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and incidental.
• Usually benign.
  • Malignant cases reported.

Microscopic

Features:

• Well-circumscribed nests of cells with nuclei at the periphery.
• Annular tubules (ring-shaped tubules) with dense hyaline material.

Notes:

• Annular = shape of a ring.
• May focally have features of Sertoli cell tumour or granulosa cell tumour.

DDx:

• Sertoli-Leydig tumour - has double palisading with overlap of the layers.
• Granulosa cell tumour - have Call-Exner bodies, which don't have a well-defined/solid content.
• Brenner tumour - coffee-bean nuclei.

Images:

• www:
  • SCTAT - image collection (gfmer.ch).
  • Possible SCTAT (pathology.cn).
• WC:
  • SCTAT - intermed. mag. (WC).
  • SCTAT - very high mag. (WC).

Juvenile granulosa cell tumour

General

• May secrete estrogen.
  • May present with endometrial pathology, e.g. endometrial hyperplasia or endometrioid endometrial carcinoma.
  • May present as precocious puberty.
• Reported in males.

Gross

• Classically solid.

Microscopic

Features:

• Microcystic spaces.
• Moderate-to-marked nuclear atypia.
• Cuboidal-to-polygonal cell in sheets or stands or cords.
• Basophilic cytoplasm.

Notes:

• Juvenile variant of GCT has more nuclear pleomorphism.

Images:

• WC:
  • Juvenile granulosa cell tumour - intermed. mag. (WC).
  • Juvenile granulosa cell tumour - very high mag. (WC).

IHC

• Inhibin positive.
  • Inhibin negative in Brenner tumour.
• Calretinin +ve.

Molecular

Currently not used for the diagnosis.

• Trisomy 12.

Adult granulosa cell tumour

• AKA granulosa cell tumour.
  • Should not be confused with granular cell tumour.
  • Ideally, it should be called adult granulosa cell tumour to avoid confusion with juvenile granulosa cell tumour.

General

• May secrete estrogen.
  • May present with endometrial pathology, e.g. endometrial hyperplasia or endometrioid endometrial carcinoma.
  • Occasionally secrete antrogens lead to virilization.

Note:

• Normal granulosa cells convert androgen from the theca cells to estrogen and/or progesterone.

Gross

• Classically solid.

Microscopic

Features:

• Classic appearance includes gland-like structures filled with acidophilic material (Call-Exner bodies).
• Small cuboidal to polygonal cell in sheets or stands or cords.
• Nuclear grooves.

Note:

• There is a "10% rule" -- if less than 10% of a SCST is granulosa cells... it isn't granulosa cell tumour.
• Juvenile variant of GCT has more nuclear pleomorphism.

DDx:

• Urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC).
  • UCC usually has extensive necrosis.
• Brenner tumour.
• Sertoli cell tumour.

IHC

• Inhibin positive.
  • Inhibin negative in Brenner tumour.
• Calretinin +ve.

Molecular

Currently not used for diagnosis.

• FOXL2 point mutation seen in 86 of 89 tumours.

Fibroma-thecoma group

• Some say fibromas and thecomas are related, while others believe they should be considered distinct entities.
• A combination of a fibroma and a thecoma is known as a fibrothecoma.

Note:

• Some discourage the use of the term fibrothecoma and sugguest calling tumours in the fibroma-thecoma group fibroma unless there are lipid-laden cells and more than minimal alpha-inhibin positivity.

Ovarian fibroma

General

• May be a part of:
  1. Meigs syndrome (mnemonic FAR: fibroma, ascites, right pleural effusion).
  2. Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS), AKA Gorlin syndrome.
     • In NBCCS classically - calcified and bilateral.
• Very rarely transform to fibrosarcoma <1%.

Gross

Features:

• Solid white mass, usu. well-circumscribed.

Note:

• Thecoma = yellow solid mass.

Images

www:

• Ovarian fibroma (flickr.com/euthman).
• Ovarian fibroma (wikidoc.org).

Microscopic

Features:

• Spindle cells with central nucleus and no nuclear atypia.
• Patternless pattern (AKA storiform pattern) - not fascicular, not herring bone.
• Stainable lipid - minimal or none.

Notes:

• May be cellular.
• Mitotic activity minimal.

DDx:

• Thecoma - lipid.
• Leiomyoma - fascicular architecture, rare in the ovary.
• Fibrosarcoma - nuclear atypia, classically herring bone pattern, very rare.
• Metastatic metaplastic carcinoma - nuclear atypia, rare.

Images

• 

  Ovarian fibroma - intermed mag. (WC)

• 

  Ovarian fibroma - high mag. (WC)

IHC

• Inhibin -ve (~75%).

Sign out

 OVARIAN MASS ("FIBROMA"), LEFT, EXCISION:
- FIBROMA.
- NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY.

Micro

The sections show spindle cells in a patternless pattern. There is no appreciable nuclear atypia. No mitotic activity is apparent. No necrosis is identified. No calcifications are seen. A small amount of benign ovarian parenchyma is present at the edge of the lesion.

Thecoma

General

• Associated with compression & atrophy of ovarian cortex, thought to arise from medulla.
• Approx. 50% have symptoms related to estrogen secretion.
  • May also be viralizing.

Gross

Features:

• Solid yellow mass, usu. well-circumscribed.

DDx:

• Ovarian fibroma - white solid mass.
• Fibroma-thecoma (fibrothecoma).

Microscopic

Features:

• Nuclei with oval to spindle morphology.
• Abundant cytoplasm that is pale, vaculolated -- key feature.

Images:

• Thecoma - low mag. (WC).
• Thecoma - high mag. (WC).

IHC

• Alpha-inhibin +ve (90%+).

Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour

• AKA androblastoma.

General

• Sertoli and leydig cells are normal in the testis.
• Poorly differentiated tumours have sarcomatous features.

Microscopic

Features:

1. Sertoli or Leydig cells.
   • Leydig cells:
     • Abundant solid eosinophilic cytoplasm.
     • Round nuclei with fine chromatin and a small or indistinct nucleolus.
     • Often in small clusters ~ 5-25 cells/cluster.
   • Sertoli cells:
     • Pale/clear vacuolated cytoplasm.
     • Irregular nuclei with irregular/vacuolated-appearing chromatin.
     • Architecture: tubules, cords or sheets.
2. Stroma.
3. +/- Sarcomatous features (mucinous glands, bone, cartilage).

DDx:

• Endometrioid carcinoma of the ovary.
• Luteinized adult granulosa cell tumour - super rare, 50% of cell with eosinophilic cytoplasm, other findings of granulosa cell tumour, e.g. Call-Exner bodies.

Images:

• WC:
  • Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour - intermed. mag. (WC).
  • Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour - very high mag. (WC).
• www:
  • Sex cord stromal tumour with Sertoli-Leydig component - several images (upmc.edu).

IHC

Features:

• WT-1 +ve.
• Melan A (MART-1) +ve - marks the Leydig component.
• Vimentin +ve.
• Calretinin +ve.
• CD99 +ve.

Others:

• CD34 -ve.
• Cytokeratin -ve (usually).

Hilus cell tumour

Main article: Leydig cell tumour

• AKA Leydig cell tumour.

General

• Rare.
• May cause virilization.
  • Development of male (sexual) characteristics in a female.
• Arise from hilus cells.

Microscopic

Features - see Leydig cell tumour:

• Moderate eosinophilic cytoplasm.
• +/-Reinke crystalloids (cytoplasmic inclusions).

DDx:

• Hilus hyperplasia.
• Sertoli-Leydig tumour.

Benign

• Benign mesothelial inclusion cyst - may mimic a tumour.

See also

• Ovary.
• Gynecologic pathology.