Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1551616
Frequency of adenoma-to-carcinoma-sequence in borderline ovarian tumors (BOT): A systematic analysis of BOT with different histologic subtypes
Background:
Low-grade ovarian carcinomas (Type I tumors), are postulated to develop via a stepwise progression from a benign cystadenoma via borderline ovarian tumors (BOT) into invasive lesion (adenoma to carcinoma sequence).
Methods:
To evaluate the frequency of adenoma to carcinoma sequence we re-valuated in 74 consecutive cases of BOT with different histologic subtypes.
Results:
The majority of cases represented serous-BOT (59.5%), followed by mucinous BOT (25.7%), other histologic types were rare.
86.5% showed an adenoma-carcinoma sequence, which was seen in all mucinous BOT but was missed in 15.9% of serous BOT.
Conclusions:
The vast majority of BOT represent a transition from benign cystadenoma to BOT in cases with mucinous and serous histology. In cases with missing adenoma-to-carcinoma-transition, the adenoma may be overgrown by the BOT. Alternatively a de-novo development might be exist, representing a second pathway within the pathogenesis of s-BLT.