Ovarian Tumor: Difference Between Benign And Malignant Ovarian Tumors



Ovarian tumors can be described as abnormal growths on the female reproductive organs (ovaries) that are responsible for producing eggs. They may be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant) in nature and early medical intervention and regular diagnostic tests can help patients improve their quality of life.

Table of Content

Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye:

  1. What is Ovarian Tumor?
  2. Difference between Benign and Malignant Ovarian Tumors
  3. How does it affect your body?
  4. When to see a doctor?
  5. Treatment Options for Benign and Malignant Ovarian Tumors

Takeaway

1. What is Ovarian Tumor?

Ovarian tumors can be classified as slow-growing abnormal tissue masses in or on in the ovary of a woman. These tumors may be benign (non-cancerous) that never spread beyond the ovary, borderline (low malignant potential), or malignant (cancerous) - both of which can metastasize (spread) to other body parts and may be fatal.

The risk factors for ovarian tumor benign or malignant include obesity, a family history of ovarian cancer or tumors, or infertility. Ovarian tumors are usually asymptomatic which means any noticeable symptoms are rarely experienced by women.

The ovarian tumour may be completely undetectable in some instances. In those cases, the tumour may grow large enough to cause discomfort in the abdominal or pelvic region by intruding on surrounding organs.

Ovarian tumor symptoms (benign ovarian tumor symptoms/malignant ovarian tumor symptoms) include:

  • Frequent urination or trouble urinating
  • Abdominal pain
  • Vomiting or nausea
  • Severe cramps with a menstrual cycle
  • Pain with sexual intercourse
  • Low back pain
  • No appetite or feeling full quickly after taking diet
  • Changes in bowel movements
  • Menstrual irregularities
  • Fatigue, lethargy, or lack of energy
  • Increased abdominal girth

2. Difference between Benign and Malignant Ovarian Tumors

The ovaries of a woman are made up of three types of cells and each cell type can develop into a unique tumor type. The ovarian tumor classification is as follows:

  • Epithelial tumors start from the cells covering the ovary's outer surface. A majority of ovarian tumors are epithelial cell tumors and they may be benign, borderline (low malignant potential), or malignant (cancerous).
  • Germ cell tumors start from ova, the cells producing the eggs.
  • Stromal tumors start from structural tissue cells holding the ovary intact and together and responsible for producing progesterone and estrogen, the female hormones.

Epithelial Tumors

  1. Benign epithelial ovarian tumors

    2. There are different forms of benign epithelial ovarian tumors such as mucinous cystadenomas, Brenner tumors, and serous cystadenomas.

    Benign epithelial ovarian tumours tend to arise from the ovary's external surface, a single layer of cells that is derived from the coelomic epithelium. Benign epithelial ovarian tumours can be classified into different forms based on their histologic origins: Brenner, endometrioid, serous, mucinous, clear cell, and mixed.

    • Serous tumours: Benign serous tumours amount to about 2/3rd of benign ovarian epithelial tumours. They are the most common type of ovarian tumor across all types of benign ovarian tumors. Serous tumors and composed of cells that resemble the lining of the fallopian tube and generally affect women in their 30s and 40s.
    • Mucinous tumours: They are composed of cells that resemble the endocervical epithelium or the intestinal epithelium. They generally affect women in their 30s and 40s and represent about 10-15 percent of benign ovarian tumours.
    • Brenner tumors: They generally affect women in their 40s and 50s and represent about 3 percent of benign ovarian epithelial tumours. They are generally unilateral and composed of cells that resemble the bladder's transitional epithelium.
    • Endometrioid tumours:They are composed of cells that resemble the uterine proliferative endometrial lining. They generally affect women in their 50s and represent about 1 percent of benign ovarian tumours.
    • Benign clear cell tumours:They are extremely rare and include CC fibrous papule, CC mesenchymal tumour, perivascular epithelioid cell tumours, CC variant of fibrous histiocytoma, myoepithelioma, atypical fibroxanthoma, and leiomyoma.
  2. Borderline Epithelial Tumors

    3. Some epithelial ovarian tumors don't appear to be malignant (cancerous) when viewed in the laboratory and are referred to as borderline epithelial ovarian cancer.

    The two most common forms of borderline epithelial ovarian cancer are atypical proliferative mucinous carcinoma and atypical proliferative serous carcinoma. These tumors grow gradually and tend to affect younger women. Borderline Epithelial Tumors don't grow into the ovarian stroma (the ovary's supporting tissue) but on (and not in) places such as the abdominal cavity.

  3. Malignant epithelial ovarian tumors

    4. Approximately 85-90 percent of malignant ovarian cancers are epithelial ovarian carcinomas. Serous carcinomas (52 percent) are the most common and other types include endometrioid carcinoma (10 percent), Clear cell carcinoma (6 percent), and Mucinous carcinoma (6 percent).

Germ Cell Tumors

Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors occur from the cells producing the eggs or ova. A majority of ovarian germ cell tumors are benign (non-cancerous) though some may be fatal and cancerous. The most common germ cell malignancies include dysgerminomas, maturing teratomas, and endodermal sinus tumors.

A majority of ovarian germ cell tumors happen usually during teenage years and to girls and women in their twenties. However, fertility can be preserved and ovarian germ cell malignancies can be cured in 90 percent of patients.

Stromal Tumor

  • Stromal Tumors refer to a rare class of ovarian tumors that develop from the ovary's connective tissue cells and those producing progesterone and estrogen.
  • The most common types of Stromal Tumors are Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors and granulosa-theca tumors that are generally considered low-grade cancers.
  • A big majority of ovarian tumors are benign, not malignant ovarian tumors. Malignant Ovarian Tumor or ovarian cancer is unregulated. Rapid growth of cells may occur in the female ovaries that could spread to other parts of the body if left untreated.
  • This health condition affects older women and the risk factors include age (women over the age of 50 years), faulty genes such as BRCA1 (Breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein) and BRCA2 (breast cancer type 2 susceptibility protein), family history of ovarian cancer, ovulation, or pregnancy (first being pregnant after 35 or never being pregnant).

3. How does it affect your body?

Benign ovarian tumors usually don't impact the body negatively. In case of severe or malignant tumors, patients may experience loss of appetite, fatigue, hair loss, numbness, tingling, low white blood cell count, infertility, bladder or bowel issues, bleeding in the abdomen or pelvis, blood clots, vaginal bleeding, fever, chills, sweats, cough, shivering, or swelling.

  • It is important for benign ovarian tumor and malignant tumor patients to consume a healthy and rich diet full of fresh and whole foods, fruits, and vegetables.
  • The consumption of refined and processed foods should be avoided.
  • Benign tumor and malignant tumor patients should engage in regular and intense workouts to keep the body strong and fit.
  • It is best to abstain from alcohol and nicotine and maintain a healthy weight.
  • It is equally important to have an uninterrupted sleep of 7-9 hours every day and stop using birth control pills.

4. When to see a doctor?

  • If a patient is experiencing severe or long-lasting symptoms such as pelvic pressure or pain, bloating, or frequent urination, it is important to seek immediate medical intervention for a pelvic or physical examination for ruling out the possibility of ovarian cancer.
  • During the consultation with the doctor, the doctor will ask you about your personal and family health history, if you are experiencing any symptoms, how long you have been experiencing them, and when they started. If you have any doubts about benign ovarian tumor treatment, ovarian tumor during pregnancy, most common ovarian tumor, or ovarian cancer tumor, you can ask for answers from the doctor.
  • The doctor may also recommend imaging tests to capture pictures of the inside of the body and to ascertain the presence of a pelvic mass.
  • Ultrasound (ultrasonography) may also be recommended to identify an ovarian tumor and find out if it is a fluid-filled cyst or a solid mass (tumor).
  • A Computed tomography (CT) scan may be recommended for accessing detailed cross-sectional images of the patient's body to find out if ovarian cancer has spread to other parts and organs of the body.
  • A Barium enema x-ray or colonoscopy may be advised to find if cancer has spread to the rectum or colon.
  • The doctor may administer FGD-18, a radioactive glucose, to the patient for a Positron emission tomography (PET) scan.

5. Treatment Options for Benign and Malignant Ovarian Tumors

The surgeon may perform a laparoscopy to evaluate the ovaries, other pelvic organs, and tissues in the surrounding areas.

Laparoscopy is regarded as the gold standard approach for managing benign and huge ovarian cysts, usually of serous or mucinous form and diameter more than 10 cm. Performed under general anaesthesia, laparoscopy is well-known in the medical and healthcare circles for its reduced invasiveness, shorter hospitalisation, and better magnification.

The benefits of a laparoscopic approach over laparotomy include less blood loss, less pain and analgesic requirements, shorter hospitalisation time, faster recovery, and better cosmetic results. The procedure is not an abdominal decompression procedure.

| Also Read: Gynaecological laparoscopic surgery: Procedure, Recovery, Cost, And more |

Take Away

If you or a loved one has been experiencing or diagnosed with an ovarian tumor or ovarian cancer, it is important for you to seek immediate medical intervention. You can reach out to Dr. Puja Sharma, the best gynecologist in Delhi NCR at Daksh Clinic, to find out how the benefits of laparoscopic surgery can be accessed by you. You can reach out to her for information on benign ovarian tumor classification, functional ovarian tumors, ovarian tumor treatment, solid ovarian tumors, and ovarian cancer tumor marker.

Dr. Puja Sharma is an experienced and the best gynecologist surgeon in Delhi who will provide compassionate care and the best, advanced ovarian tumor treatment at an affordable price.

Daksh Clinic