Objectives: Ovarian masses are common types of tumours in women and are an increasing cause of morbidity and mortality the world over. In reproductive-age women, most ovarian tumours are benign, whereas about 30% of tumours in postmenopausal women are malignant. These tumours can present in various clinical forms, often with vague symptoms unrelated to gynaecological issues. Ovarian tumours exhibit a wide range of histopathological patterns. Unfortunately, many ovarian tumours are asymptomatic in the early stages and are only diagnosed when they have advanced, leading to a high mortality rate. The identification of various histologic patterns of ovarian tumours is crucial for their diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. The objective of this study was to study the histopathological patterns and distribution of ovarian tumours in different age groups and their clinical presentations. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective observational study done in a tertiary care teaching hospital in South India. The data pertaining to ovarian lesions received for histopathological evaluation at the pathology laboratory of a tertiary care hospital were analysed. Results: We analysed records of 131 cases with ovarian lesions. The results showed that 98 % of the lesions were neoplastic, while 2% were non-neoplastic. Among the neoplastic lesions, 56% were benign, 34% were malignant, and 2% were borderline malignant. The most common tumours were serous tumours, followed by mucinous tumours and germ cell tumours. The most common non-neoplastic lesions were endometriotic cysts. Benign tumours were slightly more prevalent in the reproductive age group compared to the perimenopausal age group, whereas malignant tumours were common in the age group above 40 years. Clinical presentations frequently included abdominal pain and distension. Bilateral lesions were observed in 20 cases (15%) and were mostly malignant. Conclusion: Benign ovarian tumours are common in both reproductive-age and perimenopausal women. The most prevalent neoplasms were surface epithelial tumours, particularly serous tumours, followed by mucinous and germ cell tumours. The most common non-neoplastic lesions were endometriotic cysts. Bilateral involvement was uncommon, with a higher occurrence on the right side.
Balakrishnan et al. (Thu,) studied this question.