Malignant mixed mesodermal tumour of the ovary: clinicopathological features

Malignant mixed mesodermal tumours of the ovary have been described together with a literature review. The characteristic histological pictures of the various representative tissue elements have been demonstrated and patients characteristics analysed in detail. This confirms the classical features of this group of advanced ovarian malignancy that highlight the aggressive nature of the tumour associated with poor survival. Although generally they are managed in the same line as epithelial ovarian carcinomas the appropriate treatment has yet to be established. Because of their rarity they also illustrate the potential problems of instituting prospective randomised controlled trials.