[Morphological prognosis factors in ovarian carcinoma]

Ovarian tumours form a broad spectrum of histological types which reflect significant differences with regard to their biological behaviour and their responsiveness to radiological and cytostatical therapy. Precise subclassification is a precondition for selective therapy. A special subclass of tumours is represented by so-called borderline tumours which form a significant proportion of the overall group of epithelian ovarian neoplasms. Borderline tumours are histologically defined tumours which are neither fully benign nor overtly malignant. Though capable to metastasise they are of low malignant potential and favourable prognosis. In clinical statistics borderline tumours should be registered as a special entity. Within the ordinary group of malignant epithelial tumours histological grading has proven to be of prognostic significance. Amongst a great spectrum of useful cyto-histological criteria, nuclear polymorphism. The number of mitoses, and necrosis are the most important predictive factors.