Ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma
Updates to Article Attributes
Ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma is the malignant form of ovarian serous tumour, the most common type of ovarian epithelial tumour. It is the most common type of ovarian malignancy.
Increasingly, high-grade serous carcinoma and low-grade serous carcinoma are recognized as distinct tumour types rather than a spectrum of disease grade as implied by the nomenclature (see Pathology for more).
Terminology
Serous ovarian tumors are traditionally described with a "cyst-" prefix because of their primarily cystic composition, e.g. cystadenoma, cystadenocarcinoma.
Epidemiology
Account for the largest proportion of malignant ovarian tumours 1, representing over 50-80% of all malignant epithelial ovarian tumours 4. Serous ovarian cystadenocarcinomas account for ~25% of serous tumours.
The incidence peaks around the 6th to 7th decades of life 2.
Pathology
Macroscopic appearance
- multilocular cystic ovarian tumour with papillary projections
Microscopic appearance
- classified as high-grade versus low-grade carcinoma 9:
- high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC)
- common (70-80%)
- thought to originate from distal fallopian tube epithelium
- high grade nuclear features (e.g. nuclear pleomorphism, abnormal mitotic figures)
- characterized by intratumoral heterogeneity
- nearly ubiquitous p53 positivity
- low-grade serous carcinoma (LGSC)
- uncommon (~5%) 9
- thought to mostly represent malignant degeneration of serous cystadenoma 9
- high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC)
- psammomatous bodies may be present in either LGSC or HGSC, but more numerous in LGSC 9
Risk factors
Recognised risk factors include:
- nulliparity
- early menarche
- late menopause
- positive family history
- infertility
Markers
- elevated serum CA-125 (>90% of cases 6)
Staging
Radiographic features
Imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis of ovarian tumors and in the assessment for metastatic disease. However, surgical evaluation is the standard of care for staging of disease.
Typical imaging features of ovarian cystadenocarcinoma include:
- cystic adnexal mass with a substantial solid component
- calcification uncommon, but can be seen (~12%) 4
- also seen in serous cystadenoma and other tumours
- frequently bilateral
In the setting of suspected ovarian cystadenocarcinoma, features suggestive of extra-ovarian metastasis include:
- ascites - often of disproportionately large volume 3
- peritoneal nodularity
- lymphadenopathy
Ultrasound
- mixed cystic/solid lesion
- more heterogeneous than a serous cystadenoma
- papillary projections, thick septations, and/or solid components
- ascites
- concerning for peritoneal metastatic spread
- discrete peritoneal deposits may be seen
- colour Doppler is useful to confirm vascularity of the solid components
- quantitative parameters
(resistive(resistive index (RI)and pulsatility index (PI)) do not reliably predict malignancy
- quantitative parameters
CT
CT may be used for preoperative evaluation to assess for metastatic disease, e.g. peritoneal nodularity, ascites, or intrathoracic lesions.
MRI
MRI provides the most detailed imaging evaluation for ovarian malignancies, and may be used in either preoperative evaluation or post-treatment follow up.
-
T1
- cystic portions are T1 dark, unless there has been intralesional hemorrhage (keep in mind mucinous tumors also have brighter T1 appearance in the cystic component)
- solid portions are T1 intermediate
-
T2
- cystic portions are T2 bright
- solid portions are T2 intemediate
- T1 C+: solid portions enhance
-
DWI/ADC
- solid components restrict diffusion
- metastases may exhibit restricted diffusion may The cystic components are high T2, low T1 signal unless there has been intralesional haemorrhage (c.f. , where there is typically slightly increased T1 signal of the cystic component).
See also
-<li>colour Doppler is useful to confirm vascularity of the solid components<ul><li>quantitative parameters (resistive index and pulsatility index) do not reliably predict malignancy</li></ul>- +<li>colour Doppler is useful to confirm vascularity of the solid components<ul><li>quantitative parameters (<a href="/articles/resistive-index-vascular-ultrasound">resistive index (RI)</a> and <a title="Pulsatility index (ultrasound)" href="/articles/pulsatility-index-ultrasound">pulsatility index (PI)</a>) do not reliably predict malignancy</li></ul>
-</ul><h5>CT</h5><p>CT may be used for preoperative evaluation to assess for metastatic disease, e.g. peritoneal nodularity, ascites, or intrathoracic lesions.</p><h5>MRI</h5><p>MRI provides the most detailed imaging evaluation for ovarian malignancies, and may be used in either preoperative evaluation or post-treatment follow up.</p><ul>- +</ul><h5>CT</h5><p>CT may be used for preoperative evaluation to assess for metastatic disease, e.g. peritoneal nodularity, ascites, or intrathoracic lesions.</p><h5>MRI</h5><p>MRI provides the most detailed imaging evaluation for ovarian malignancies and may be used in either preoperative evaluation or post-treatment follow up.</p><ul>
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