[Anatomo-pathologic ovarian cancers]

Ovarian cancers constitute a group of tumours characterized by a variety of histological patterns. The classification used is that of the W.H.O. Common épithelial account for two-thirds of all ovarian cancers. In this group, tumours of borderline malignancy should be distinguished from adenocarcinomas. Since these lesions are associated with an unusually good prognosis, it is of major importance to rule out an infiltration of the ovarian stroma. Extra-ovarian spread of borderline tumours probably results from a multifocal process which is not associated with the poor prognosis of metastatic involvement. Tumours of the mesenchyma and sex cords are less frequent, as are germ cell tumours. For the latter, preoperative assays of serum markers can be of help in the diagnosis and management of the cases.