Ovarian cancer is when abnormal cells in the ovary begin to grow and divide in an uncontrolled way. Women have two ovaries located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus.
A cancerous (malignant) tumor is a group of cells that grow and multiply quickly. It can invade and destroy nearby body tissue. It can also spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
Ovarian cancer is the 7th most common cancer among women, and the 8th cause of death from cancer in women.
Its high mortality is due to the fact that diagnosis often occurs at an advanced stage of the tumor. Hence, prognosis is poor. Hence the importance of accurate and early diagnosis.
The female reproductive system
Fuente: Canadian Cancer Society
The ovary
Fuente: Canadian Cancer Society
Cancerous ovarian tumors are grouped by the type of cells where the cancer begins:
- Epithelial ovarian cancer
- Germ Cell tumors (nonepithelial ovarian tumors)
- Stromal tumors (nonepithelial ovarian tumors)
STAGE 1
STAGE 2
STAGE 3
STAGE 4
The tumour is only in 1 ovary or both ovaries.
The cancer involves 1 ovary or both ovaries and has grown into the surrounding pelvic organs.
The cancer involves 1 or both ovaries or it started in the peritoneum. The cancer has spread to areas outside the pelvis.
The cancer has spread to other parts of the body (called distant metastasis) outside the abdomen and pelvis.
STAGE 1
The tumour is only in 1 ovary or both ovaries.
STAGE 2
The cancer involves 1 ovary or both ovaries and has grown into the surrounding pelvic organs.
STAGE 3
The cancer involves 1 or both ovaries or it started in the peritoneum. The cancer has spread to areas outside the pelvis.
STAGE 4
The cancer has spread to other parts of the body (called distant metastasis) outside the abdomen and pelvis.
What are sex cord-stromal tumors?
Ovarian Sex Cord-Stromal tumors (SCSTs) are a rare group of benign and malignant tumors. These tumors develop from the sex cord cells, stromal cells, or both. The stroma and the sex cords are tissues that support the ovary.
SCSTs usually occur in the first two decades of life, affecting adolescents and young women, and can have a late recurrence.
The most common malignant SCST is the adult Granulosa Cell Tumor. This subtype has a peak incidence between 50 and 55 years of age.
To date, surgery is the most effective therapeutic approach for this kind of tumor.
1 per 500,000 women are affected by a malignant SCST
50 years is the average age at diagnosis
5% of ovarian malignancies are SCSTs (in 15-24 years old women)
75% of SCSTs are Granulosa Cell Tumor type
Symptoms
Abdominal pain or pressure
Pelvic pain or pressure
Urinary symptoms (increased urgency or frequency)
Bloating or an increase in the abdomen size
Difficulty eating and feeling full quickly
Menstrual changes
Hirsutism (excessive body hair growth)
Diagnostic
Ultrasound
Blood tests
CT scan
PET scan
Chest x-ray
