Comparison of clinical presentation of benign and malignant ovarian tumours

To compare clinical presentation of benign and malignant ovarian tumours and to enlist and identify symptoms that could lead to early diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma

It was a consecutive case series study. All patients who on abdominal or bimanual examination and abdominal U/S were found to have ovarian cyst or tumour, and later underwent laparotomy were included.

The study included 110 patients, of whom 80 (72%) had benign and the rest malignant disease. Mean age of patients with malignancy was 49.07+/-18.5 years and for benign 36.95+/-8.2 years (p= 0.0001). Eleven patients with benign tumours were asymptomatic, while 66% had abdominal pain. On the other hand 70% patients with ovarian malignancy had abdominal symptoms with abdominal pain in (76%). Abdominal enlargement and abdominal mass were significantly more in malignant tumours (p=0.003, p= 0.005). Gastrointestinal symptoms were present in both groups but more significant in malignant group (p=0.004). Constitutional symptoms like loss of appetite and weight loss were only present in malignant group (p=0.001). Seventy percent of the malignant tumours presented at late stage (III & IV). Histopathology of benign tumours revealed follicular/luteal cyst in 32% cases while serous cyst adenoma in 23%. Histopathology of malignant tumours showed serous cyst carcinoma in 46.7% and mucinous cyst carcinoma in 26% cases.

Ovarian malignancy is a silent killer, especially affecting women above 50 years. Although presentation is often vague and non specific, symptoms are definitely present. Therefore a proper bimanual examination and appropriate investigations should be done at the outset in post menopausal women.