Metastatic tumours of the ovary: a clinico-pathological study

The ovary is a frequent site of metastasis. However the incidence of metastatic tumours to the ovary is not exactly known. The reported incidence in the literature varies from 2.95 to 27.8%. The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and the breast have been reported to be the frequent primary sites of the metastatic deposits in the ovary. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of metastatic ovarian tumours and analyse their detailed morphologic features. All the metastatic ovarian neoplasms diagnosed in the Department of Cytology and Gynaecologic Pathology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh from 1996 to 2000 were included in the study. Nineteen metastatic tumours out of a total of 363 ovarian neoplasms (5%) were identified. The patients frequently presented with abdominal distension and mass. The age ranged from 17 to 75 years. The primary site was unknown in ten cases. Uterus was the most common site (4 cases) followed by GIT (3 cases). Six Krukenberg's tumours were identified. In cases simulating the primary ovarian tumours, the following features were helpful to suggest the metastatic deposit in the ovary: bilaterality, no significant ovarian enlargement, vascular emboli, a Krukenberg's morphology, no omental deposits and the absence of transition from benign to malignant epithelium.