FREQUENCY an‎d HISTOLOGICAL SPECTRUM OF MALIGNANT OVARIAN TUMOURS AT KING EDWARD MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, LAHORE

Background and Objectives: Ovarian cancer is a lethal gynaecological malignancy accounting for a large number of deaths of the female. Ovarian tumours constitute a major bulk of the gynaecologic surgical specimens received for histopathological analysis. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and the histological patterns of ovarian malignancies. Methods: This was a 6 – month cross sectional study from May 2014 – November 2014. A total of 180 ovarian tumours were received and reported at the department in collaboration with Lady Willington Hospital and Lady Aitchison Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Results: Out of total of 180 cases of ovarian tumours, malignant tumours were found to be 61 (33.9%) while 119 cases (66.1%) were classified as benign ovarian tumours. Mean age of females with benign tumours was 31.60 ± 9.63 years and in ovarian cancers the mean age was 44.57 ± 12.78 years. Ovarian cancers were classified into 4 major categories and included 38 tumours (62.30%) in the surface epithelial group, 12 tumours (19.67%) in the germ cell group, 7 tumours (11.48%) in the sex cord stromal group and 4 tumours (6.56%) in the metastatic group. Serous Cystadenocarcinoma was the commonest malignant ovarian tumour in the surface epithelial group comprising of 18 cases (29.51%), followed by 14 cases (22.95%) of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. Dysgerminoma constituted 6 cases (9.84%) and was the commonest ovarian cancer in the malignant germ cell category followed by yolk sac tumour of which there were 3 cases (4.92). In the malignant sex cord stromal group all tumours were granulosa cell tumours (7 cases; 11.48%). Metastatic tumours comprised of 2 cases (3.28%) from colorectal cancer and 2 cases (3.28%) from gastric cancer. Conclusion: Tumours of surface epithelial category are the commonest malignant ovarian tumours of which serous cystadenocarcinoma is the commonest subtype. The 2nd major category was of germ Cell origin of which dysgerminoma was the commonest subtype.