Mucinous tumors of the ovary: analysis of 38 cases

Ovarian mucinous tumors stem from ovarian surface epithelium and are divided into benign, borderline and malignant. It is difficult to differentiate borderline and malignant mucinous tumors. Thirty-eight cases of ovarian mucinous tumors which were diagnosed at the Pathology Department of Dicle University Medical Faculty were reviewed. Of these, 18 (47.3%), six (15.7%) and 14 (36.8%) were benign, borderline and malignant, respectively. The patients' ages ranged from 18 to 67 (average 44.5) years. Bilaterality was detected 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 had papillary infoldings and 2-3 layers of atypical epithelial cells but no invasion of the stroma. Malignant tumors had four or more layers of atypical epithelial cells and stromal invasion.