Adult granulosa cell tumours of the ovary

This review is a retrospective study of granulosa cell tumours encountered in one hospital between 1970 and 1995. There were 16 granulosa cell tumours. The size of the granulosa cell tumours varied from 3 to 30 cms in diameter and no correlation was found between size and evidence of invasion. There was also no correlation between either mitotic count or histological pattern and evidence of invasion. Evidence of oestrogen production was found in 11 of the 16 granulosa cell tumours (2 with endometrial carcinoma and 9 with endometrial hyperplasia). Granulosa cell tumours are characterised by a long natural history with a significant capacity to recur years after an apparent clinical cure. It is therefore important that patients with these tumours are followed-up indefinitely.