Mucinous tumors of the ovary: Analysis of 38 cases

Ovarian mucinous tumors stem from ovarian surface epithelium and are divide d into benign, borderline and malignant. If is difficult to differentiate b orderline and malignant mucinous tumors. Thirty-eight cases of ovarian muci nous tumors which were diagnosed at the Pathology Department of Dicle Unive rsity Medical Faculty were reviewed. Of these, 18 (47.3%), six (15.7%) and 14 (36.8%) were benign, borderline and malignant. respectively. The patient s' ages ranged from 18 to 67 (average 44.5) years. Bilaterality was detecte d in 1/18 (5.5%). 0/6 and 4/14 (28.5%) of benign, borderline and malignant mucinous tumors, respectively. Mean tumor size was 26.4 cm. Microscopically , there was no stratification in the benign tumors. The borderline tumors h ad papillary infoldings and 2-3 layers of atypical epithelial cells but no invasion of the stroma. Malignant tumors had four or more layers of atypica l epithelial cells and stromal invasion.