Malignant Ovarian Neoplasms Review

Flashcards for key concepts related to malignant ovarian neoplasms, their symptoms, diagnostic methods, and treatment.

Malignant

Referring to tumors that are cancerous and can invade surrounding tissues.

CA 125

A tumor-associated antigen often elevated in patients with ovarian cancer.

Sonography

An imaging technique that uses ultrasound to visualize internal organs and structures.

Neoplasms

Abnormal growths of tissue, which can be benign or malignant.

Dysgerminoma

A malignant germ cell tumor originating from the primordial germ cells of the ovary.

Ascites

The accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, often associated with cancer.

Granulosa Cell Tumor

A tumor of the sex cord that commonly produces estrogen and occurs mostly in postmenopausal women.

Epithelial Cystadenocarcinoma

A type of malignant ovarian tumor characterized by cystic and solid components.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei

A condition characterized by the presence of mucin-secreting tumor cells in the peritoneal cavity, often due to tumor rupture.

Krukenberg Tumor

A specific type of ovarian cancer that arises from gastrointestinal primary tumors, commonly gastric carcinoma.

Malignant

Referring to tumors that are cancerous and can invade surrounding tissues and metastasize (spread to distant sites).

CA 125

A tumor-associated antigen (Cancer Antigen 125) often elevated in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, used for monitoring response to treatment and recurrence, but not for screening due to low specificity.

Sonography

An imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to visualize internal organs and structures in real-time. It's safe, non-invasive, and commonly used for initial evaluation of ovarian masses.

Neoplasms

Abnormal growths of tissue, which can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Malignant neoplasms are characterized by uncontrolled growth, invasion, and metastasis.

Dysgerminoma

A malignant germ cell tumor originating from the primordial germ cells of the ovary, typically affecting adolescents and young women. It is highly sensitive to chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Ascites

The accumulation of serous fluid in the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity, often associated with advanced ovarian cancer due to abnormal fluid production by tumor cells and/or lymphatic obstruction.

Granulosa Cell Tumor

A tumor of the sex cord-stromal type that commonly produces estrogen, leading to symptoms like abnormal uterine bleeding or precocious puberty. It occurs mostly in postmenopausal women but can affect all ages.

Epithelial Cystadenocarcinoma

A type of malignant ovarian tumor derived from the surface epithelium of the ovary, characterized by cystic and/or solid components. It is the most common type of ovarian cancer, with subtypes including serous, mucinous, and endometrioid.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei

A condition characterized by the presence of mucin-secreting tumor cells and gelatinous ascites in the peritoneal cavity, often due to rupture of mucinous ovarian tumors or appendiceal neoplasms.

Krukenberg Tumor

A specific type of metastatic ovarian cancer that arises from a primary tumor in the gastrointestinal tract, most commonly gastric carcinoma, characterized microscopically by signet ring cells and often presenting as bilateral ovarian masses.

Benign Neoplasm

A non-cancerous tumor that typically grows slowly, remains localized, does not invade surrounding tissues, and does not metastasize. While not cancerous, large benign tumors can still cause symptoms due to compression of adjacent structures.

Transvaginal Sonography (TVS)

A specific type of ultrasound imaging where a transducer is inserted into the vagina, providing clearer and more detailed images of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes compared to transabdominal ultrasound, especially for evaluating ovarian masses.

Serous Cystadenocarcinoma

The most common and aggressive subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer, often bilateral and characterized by papillary projections and psammoma bodies. It accounts for the majority of high-grade ovarian cancers.

Germ Cell Tumors (Ovary)

A group of ovarian neoplasms that arise from the primitive germ cells of the gonad, accounting for approximately 20-25% of all ovarian tumors. They can be benign (like mature teratomas) or malignant (like dysgerminomas, yolk sac tumors, immature teratomas, and choriocarcinomas).

Sex Cord-Stromal Tumors (Ovary)

A diverse group of ovarian neoplasms originating from the stromal cells and sex cords of the ovary. These tumors often produce steroid hormones (estrogen, androgens), leading to endocrine manifestations. Granulosa cell tumors and Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors are examples.

Signet Ring Cells

Refers to a distinct microscopic appearance of tumor cells where a large vacuole of mucin pushes the nucleus to the periphery, resembling a signet ring. These cells are characteristic of certain adenocarcinomas, notably gastric carcinoma and Krukenberg tumors.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)

A tumor marker that can be elevated in certain malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary, such as yolk sac tumors (endodermal sinus tumors), and some immature teratomas. It is also used in monitoring testicular and liver cancers.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)

A hormone produced by syncytiotrophoblasts. Elevated levels can be found in choriocarcinoma (a rare type of malignant germ cell tumor) and sometimes dysgerminoma of the ovary, as well as during pregnancy. It is used as a tumor marker for certain germ cell neoplasms.

Malignant

Referring to tumors that are cancerous and can invade surrounding tissues and metastasize (spread to distant sites).

CA 125

A tumor-associated antigen (Cancer Antigen 125) often elevated in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, used for monitoring response to treatment and recurrence, but not for screening due to low specificity.

Sonography

An imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to visualize internal organs and structures in real-time. It's safe, non-invasive, and commonly used for initial evaluation of ovarian masses.

Neoplasms

Abnormal growths of tissue, which can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Malignant neoplasms are characterized by uncontrolled growth, invasion, and metastasis.

Dysgerminoma

A malignant germ cell tumor originating from the primordial germ cells of the ovary, typically affecting adolescents and young women. It is highly sensitive to chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Ascites

The accumulation of serous fluid in the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity, often associated with advanced ovarian cancer due to abnormal fluid production by tumor cells and/or lymphatic obstruction.

Granulosa Cell Tumor

A tumor of the sex cord-stromal type that commonly produces estrogen, leading to symptoms like abnormal uterine bleeding or precocious puberty. It occurs mostly in postmenopausal women but can affect all ages.

Epithelial Cystadenocarcinoma

A type of malignant ovarian tumor derived from the surface epithelium of the ovary, characterized by cystic and/or solid components. It is the most common type of ovarian cancer, with subtypes including serous, mucinous, and endometrioid.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei

A condition characterized by the presence of mucin-secreting tumor cells and gelatinous ascites in the peritoneal cavity, often due to rupture of mucinous ovarian tumors or appendiceal neoplasms.

Krukenberg Tumor

A specific type of metastatic ovarian cancer that arises from a primary tumor in the gastrointestinal tract, most commonly gastric carcinoma, characterized microscopically by signet ring cells and often presenting as bilateral ovarian masses.

Benign Neoplasm

A non-cancerous tumor that typically grows slowly, remains localized, does not invade surrounding tissues, and does not metastasize. While not cancerous, large benign tumors can still cause symptoms due to compression of adjacent structures.

Transvaginal Sonography (TVS)

A specific type of ultrasound imaging where a transducer is inserted into the vagina, providing clearer and more detailed images of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes compared to transabdominal ultrasound, especially for evaluating ovarian masses.

Serous Cystadenocarcinoma

The most common and aggressive subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer, often bilateral and characterized by papillary projections and psammoma bodies. It accounts for the majority of high-grade ovarian cancers.

Germ Cell Tumors (Ovary)

A group of ovarian neoplasms that arise from the primitive germ cells of the gonad, accounting for approximately 20-25% of all ovarian tumors. They can be benign (like mature teratomas) or malignant (like dysgerminomas, yolk sac tumors, immature teratomas, and choriocarcinomas).

Sex Cord-Stromal Tumors (Ovary)

A diverse group of ovarian neoplasms originating from the stromal cells and sex cords of the ovary. These tumors often produce steroid hormones (estrogen, androgens), leading to endocrine manifestations. Granulosa cell tumors and Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors are examples.

Signet Ring Cells

Refers to a distinct microscopic appearance of tumor cells where a large vacuole of mucin pushes the nucleus to the periphery, resembling a signet ring. These cells are characteristic of certain adenocarcinomas, notably gastric carcinoma and Krukenberg tumors.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)

A tumor marker that can be elevated in certain malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary, such as yolk sac tumors (endodermal sinus tumors), and some immature teratomas. It is also used in monitoring testicular and liver cancers.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)

A hormone produced by syncytiotrophoblasts. Elevated levels can be found in choriocarcinoma (a rare type of malignant germ cell tumor) and sometimes dysgerminoma of the ovary, as well as during pregnancy. It is used as a tumor marker for certain germ cell neoplasms.

Mucinous Cystadenocarcinoma

A subtype of malignant epithelial ovarian tumor characterized by mucin-producing cells, often presenting as large, multiloculated cysts. It can be associated with pseudomyxoma peritonei.

Yolk Sac Tumor (Endodermal Sinus Tumor)

A highly malignant germ cell tumor of the ovary, typically affecting young women, characterized by elevated serum Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and the presence of Schiller-Duval bodies.

Immature Teratoma

A malignant germ cell tumor containing varying amounts of immature embryonic tissues (e.g., neural tissue, cartilage, mesenchyme), most commonly found in adolescents and young women. Its grade determines prognosis.

Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma (Ovary)

A subtype of malignant epithelial ovarian tumor resembling endometrial cancer, often associated with endometriosis or a concurrent endometrial carcinoma.

Ovarian Torsion

A gynecologic emergency involving the twisting of the ovary and sometimes the fallopian tube around its vascular pedicle, leading to impaired blood flow and potential tissue necrosis. It often presents with acute pelvic pain.

Choriocarcinoma (Ovary)

A rare, highly malignant germ cell tumor of the ovary, characterized by the production of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and a poor prognosis.

Mature Teratoma (Dermoid Cyst)

A common type of benign germ cell tumor of the ovary, containing well-differentiated tissues derived from all three germ layers (e.g., skin, hair, teeth, bone, fat).

Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor

A type of sex cord-stromal tumor that typically produces androgens, often leading to virilization symptoms like hirsutism, deepening voice, and clitoromegaly in affected women.

Borderline Ovarian Tumor

An ovarian neoplasm with features intermediate between benign and malignant. It exhibits atypical epithelial proliferation but lacks definitive stromal invasion, carrying a better prognosis than invasive cancer.

Endometrioma

A type of ovarian cyst formed by ectopic endometrial tissue that grows within the ovary. It often appears as a 'chocolate cyst' due to the accumulation of old, dark blood.