Ovarian mucinous tumor

Last updated October 05, 2024

Mucinous tumors are a type of ovarian tumor.^[1]^[2] They are typically large.^[3]

They are part of the surface epithelial-stromal tumor group of ovarian neoplasms, and account for approximately 36% of all ovarian tumors.^[4] Approximately 75% are benign, 10% are borderline and 15% are malignant. Rarely, the tumor is seen bilaterally; approximately 5% of primary mucinous tumors are bilateral.

Benign mucinous tumors are typically multilocular (have several lobes), and the cysts have a smooth lining of epithelium that resembles endocervical epithelial cells with small numbers of gastrointestinal-type epithelial cells. Borderline and malignant mucinous tumors often have papillae and solid areas. There may also be hemorrhage and necrosis.

It is well documented that malignancy may be only focally present in mucinous neoplasms of the ovary, so thorough sampling is imperative.

The major distinguishing features of mucinous tumors are that the tumors are filled with a mucus-like material, which gives them their name; this mucus is produced by mucus-secreting goblet cells very similar to the cells lining normal intestine.

These tumors may become very large, some have been weighed as large as 25 kilograms.

Cystadenocarcinomas (malignant tumors) contain a more solid growth pattern with the hallmarks of malignancy: cellular atypia and stratification, loss of the normal architecture of the tissue, and necrosis. The appearance can look similar to colonic cancer.

Clear stromal invasion is used to differentiate borderline tumors from malignant tumors.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei may present as a result of an ovarian mucinous tumor, however this is a rare cause of this condition, which is a rare condition. A more common cause of pseudomyxoma peritonei is a mucin-producing tumor of the appendix.

Since mucinous tumors arising from the ovary usually only involve one ovary, the presence of involvement in both ovaries with a mucinous tumor suggests that the tumor may have arisen in another location, and further study is warranted.

The risk of mucinous tumors is significantly associated with smoking: relative risk for current smokers 2.22 (2.22 times the risk for non-smokers) and 2.02 for past smokers. Risk is also associated with smoking duration: relative risk per 20 years was 1.44. See article by Tworoger SS in Cancer March 1, 2008 using data from the Nurses Health Study.

Prognosis

10-year survival rates for mucinous tumors is excellent in the absence of invasion. In the case of borderline tumors confined to the ovary and malignant tumors without invasion, the survival rates are 90% or greater. In invasive mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, the survival is approximately 30%. Survival in metastasis is between 12 and 30 months.^[5]

Related Research Articles

A Krukenberg tumor refers to a malignancy in the ovary that metastasized from a primary site, classically the gastrointestinal tract, although it can arise in other tissues such as the breast. Gastric adenocarcinoma, especially at the pylorus, is the most common source. Krukenberg tumors are often found in both ovaries, consistent with its metastatic nature.

An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac within the ovary. They usually cause no symptoms, but occasionally they may produce bloating, lower abdominal pain, or lower back pain. The majority of cysts are harmless. If the cyst either breaks open or causes twisting of the ovary, it may cause severe pain. This may result in vomiting or feeling faint, and even cause headaches.

Ovarian cancer is a cancerous tumor of an ovary. It may originate from the ovary itself or more commonly from communicating nearby structures such as fallopian tubes or the inner lining of the abdomen. The ovary is made up of three different cell types including epithelial cells, germ cells, and stromal cells. When these cells become abnormal, they have the ability to divide and form tumors. These cells can also invade or spread to other parts of the body. When this process begins, there may be no or only vague symptoms. Symptoms become more noticeable as the cancer progresses. These symptoms may include bloating, vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, abdominal swelling, constipation, and loss of appetite, among others. Common areas to which the cancer may spread include the lining of the abdomen, lymph nodes, lungs, and liver.

Brenner tumours are an uncommon subtype of the surface epithelial-stromal tumour group of ovarian neoplasms. The majority are benign, but some can be malignant.

A serous tumour is a neoplasm that typically has papillary to solid formations of tumor cells with crowded nuclei, and which typically arises on the modified Müllerian-derived serous membranes that surround the ovaries in females. Such ovarian tumors are part of the surface epithelial-stromal tumour group of ovarian tumors. They are common neoplasms with a strong tendency to occur bilaterally, and they account for approximately a quarter of all ovarian tumors.

Surface epithelial-stromal tumors are a class of ovarian neoplasms that may be benign or malignant. Neoplasms in this group are thought to be derived from the ovarian surface epithelium or from ectopic endometrial or fallopian tube (tubal) tissue. Tumors of this type are also called ovarian adenocarcinoma. This group of tumors accounts for 90% to 95% of all cases of ovarian cancer; however is mainly only found in postmenopausal women with the exception of the United States where 7% of cases occur in women under the age of 40. Serum CA-125 is often elevated but is only 50% accurate so it is not a useful tumor marker to assess the progress of treatment. 75% of women with epithelial ovarian cancer are found within the advanced-stages; however younger patients are more likely to have better prognoses than older patients.

Sex cord–gonadal stromal tumour is a group of tumours derived from the stromal component of the ovary and testis, which comprises the granulosa, thecal cells and fibrocytes. In contrast, the epithelial cells originate from the outer epithelial lining surrounding the gonad while the germ cell tumors arise from the precursor cells of the gametes, hence the name germ cell. In humans, this group accounts for 8% of ovarian cancers and under 5% of testicular cancers. Their diagnosis is histological: only a biopsy of the tumour can make an exact diagnosis. They are often suspected of being malignant prior to operation, being solid ovarian tumours that tend to occur most commonly in post menopausal women.

Germ cell tumor (GCT) is a neoplasm derived from the primordial germ cells. Germ-cell tumors can be cancerous or benign. Germ cells normally occur inside the gonads. GCTs that originate outside the gonads may be birth defects resulting from errors during development of the embryo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pseudomyxoma peritonei</span> Medical condition

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a clinical condition caused by cancerous cells that produce abundant mucin or gelatinous ascites. The tumors cause fibrosis of tissues and impede digestion or organ function, and if left untreated, the tumors and mucin they produce will fill the abdominal cavity. This will result in compression of organs and will destroy the function of the colon, small intestine, stomach, or other organs. Prognosis with treatment in many cases is optimistic, but the disease is lethal if untreated, with death occurring via cachexia, bowel obstruction, or other types of complications.

The International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O) is a domain-specific extension of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems for tumor diseases. This classification is widely used by cancer registries.

Appendix cancer, also known as appendiceal cancer, is a very rare malignant tumor that forms in the vermiform appendix.

Ovarian tumors, or ovarian neoplasms, are tumors in the ovary. Not all are ovarian cancer. They consist of mainly solid tissue, while ovarian cysts contain fluid.

A mucinous neoplasm is an abnormal and excessive growth of tissue (neoplasia) with associated mucin. It arises from epithelial cells that line certain internal organs and skin, and produce mucin. A malignant mucinous neoplasm is called a mucinous carcinoma. For example, for ovarian mucinous tumors, approximately 75% are benign, 10% are borderline and 15% are malignant.

Mucinous cystadenoma is a benign cystic tumor lined by a mucinous epithelium. It is a type of cystic adenoma (cystadenoma).

A borderline tumor, sometimes called low malignant potential (LMP) tumor, is a distinct but yet heterogeneous group of tumors defined by their histopathology as atypical epithelial proliferation without stromal invasion. It generally refers to such tumors in the ovary but borderline tumors may rarely occur at other locations as well.

Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the lung (MCACL) is a very rare malignant mucus-producing neoplasm arising from the uncontrolled growth of transformed epithelial cells originating in lung tissue.

Ovarian serous cystadenoma is a non-cancerous type of tumor of the ovary. It is typically larger than 1cm in diameter and presents with signs and symptoms of a growth in the pelvis, or is discovered when investigating something else. A fifth occur in both ovaries at the same time.

Hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy (HITOC) is part of a surgical strategy employed in the treatment of various pleural malignancies. The pleura in this situation could be considered to include the surface linings of the chest wall, lungs, mediastinum, and diaphragm. HITOC is the chest counterpart of HIPEC. Traditionally used in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma, a primary malignancy of the pleura, this modality has recently been evaluated in the treatment of secondary pleural malignancies.

A pancreatic cyst is a fluid filled sac within the pancreas. The prevalence of pancreatic cysts is 2-15% based on imaging studies, but the prevalence may be as high as 50% based on autopsy series. Most pancreatic cysts are benign and the risk of malignancy is 0.5-1.5%. Pancreatic pseudocysts and serous cystadenomas are considered benign pancreatic cysts with a risk of malignancy of 0%.

Ovarian germ cell tumors (OGCTs) are heterogeneous tumors that are derived from the primitive germ cells of the embryonic gonad, which accounts for about 2.6% of all ovarian malignancies. There are four main types of OGCTs, namely dysgerminomas, yolk sac tumor, teratoma, and choriocarcinoma.

References

↑ WHO Classification of Tumours Editorial Board, ed. (2020). "1. Tumours of the ovary". Female genital tumours: WHO Classification of Tumours. Vol. 4 (5th ed.). Lyon (France): International Agency for Research on Cancer. pp. 48–54. ISBN 978-92-832-4504-9.
↑ Euscher, Elizabeth D.; Hui, Jian-Jun (2021). "9. Ovarian epithelial neoplasia". In Wei, Jian-Jun; Hui, Pei (eds.). Practical Gynecologic Pathology: Frequently Asked Questions. Switzerland: Springer. pp. 225–262. ISBN 978-3-030-68608-6.
↑ Smith, Roger P. (2023). "157. Mucinous ovarian cysts". Netter's Obstetrics and Gynecology (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier. pp. 352–354. ISBN 978-0-443-10739-9.
↑ Smith JA and Wolf JK. Ovarian Cancer. In: Pharmacotherapy: A pathophysiologic approach.8th ed. Dipiro JT, Talbert RL, Yee GC et al., New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008: 2361-75.
↑ Babaier, Abdulaziz; Ghatage, Prafull (January 2020). "Mucinous Cancer of the Ovary: Overview and Current Status". Diagnostics. 10 (1): 52. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics10010052 . PMC 7168201 . PMID 31963927.

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[WHOblue2020-1] WHO Classification of Tumours Editorial Board, ed. (2020). "1. Tumours of the ovary". Female genital tumours: WHO Classification of Tumours. Vol. 4 (5th ed.). Lyon (France): International Agency for Research on Cancer. pp. 48–54. ISBN 978-92-832-4504-9.

[Wei2021-2] Euscher, Elizabeth D.; Hui, Jian-Jun (2021). "9. Ovarian epithelial neoplasia". In Wei, Jian-Jun; Hui, Pei (eds.). Practical Gynecologic Pathology: Frequently Asked Questions. Switzerland: Springer. pp. 225–262. ISBN 978-3-030-68608-6.

[Smith2023.60-3] Smith, Roger P. (2023). "157. Mucinous ovarian cysts". Netter's Obstetrics and Gynecology (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier. pp. 352–354. ISBN 978-0-443-10739-9.

[4] Smith JA and Wolf JK. Ovarian Cancer. In: Pharmacotherapy: A pathophysiologic approach.8th ed. Dipiro JT, Talbert RL, Yee GC et al., New York: McGraw-Hill; 2008: 2361-75.

[5] Babaier, Abdulaziz; Ghatage, Prafull (January 2020). "Mucinous Cancer of the Ovary: Overview and Current Status". Diagnostics. 10 (1): 52. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics10010052 . PMC 7168201 . PMID 31963927.

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