OVARIAN CORTEX SURROUNDING BENIGN NEOPLASMS - A HISTOLOGIC-STUDY

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess the functional morphologic featur es of the ovarian cortex surrounding benign cysts. STUDY DESIGN: Fifty -four specimens (13 mature teratomas, nine benign cystadenomas, and 32 endometriomas) were obtained from the area of maximum distention of t he ovarian cortex overlying benign cysts from 48 patients. The type an d number of follicles were scored on a semiquantitative scale (0 to 4) . Alterations of the cortical stroma that were related to the primary tumor were investigated. The vascular network was assessed by means of monoclonal antibodies directed against endothelial cells (anti-VW, QB END\10) and scored on a scale from 0 to 2. The chi2 and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Morphologic pattern s similar to those of the normal ovarian cortex were observed in the c ortical tissue surrounding mature teratomas, benign cystomas, and endo metriomas in 92%, 77%, and 19% (p < 0.01) of specimens, respectively, and a regular vascular network was observed in 84%, 78%, and 22% (p < 0.01). Although microscopic endometriosis was observed surrounding the endometrioma in the stroma of 82% of specimens, stromal alterations r elated to the ovarian tumor were absent in the cortex surrounding matu re teratomas and cystadenomas. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that the o varian cortex, which is stretched and thinned by the growth of a benig n tumor, is not morphologically altered in the presence of teratomas o r benign cystadenomas. Endometriomas are associated with microscopic s tromal implants and reduced follicular number and activity.