Histomorphological Analysis of Ovarian Neoplasms According to the 2020 WHO Classification of Ovarian Tumors - A Distribution Pattern in a Tertiary Care Center

Sep 24, 2026

Retrospective histopathological review assessed ovarian neoplasms using the 2020 World Health Organization (WHO) classification in a tertiary care setting. Patient records from February 2020 to February 2023 were analyzed for age, clinical presentation of ovarian masses, and gross and microscopic features. Among 110 cases, benign tumors predominated (69%), malignancy accounted for 24.5%, and borderline tumors were 5.4%. Epithelial tumors were most frequent (70%), with high-grade serous cystadenocarcinoma as the leading malignant subtype (9%).

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Open Access Original Article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.38273 Review began 04/17/2023 Review ended 04/24/2023 Published 04/28/2023 © Copyright 2023 Mehra et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC-BY 4.0. , which permits unrestricted use , distribution , and reproduction in any medium , provided the original author and source are credited. Histomorphological Analysis of Ovarian Neoplasms According to the 2020 WHO Classification of Ovarian Tumors: A Distribution Pattern in a Tertiary Care Center Pallavi Mehra 1 , Sneha Aditi 1 , Krishna M. Prasad 1 , Navin K. Bariar 1 1. Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Patna Medical College, Patna, IND Corresponding author: Sneha Aditi, [25.adisneha@gmail.com](25.adisneha@gmail.com) Abstract Background: In 2018, ovarian carcinoma ranked as the eighth most common cancer diagnosed and the leading cause of cancer death in women. High-grade serous carcinoma is the most common histological type seen among malignant cases. A diverse group of neoplasms is seen in the ovary with variable clinical, morphological, and histological features, so assessing the nature of ovarian neoplasms further assists in the treatment of the disease. Aim: This study was conducted to assess the different histopathological variants of ovarian neoplasms according to the latest 2020 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of ovarian tumors. Further analysis of the frequency, age, clinical features in patients, and distribution of various ovarian tumors is assessed. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Pathology at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), Patna. The data of the patients from the past three years, from February 2020 to February 2023, were retrieved and assessed. Gross and microscopic findings, including clinical details of patients with ovarian masses, were analyzed from the previous records. Result: A total of 110 cases of ovarian neoplasms on histopathology were analyzed. The age range was 11-70 years. The types of specimens received were those of total abdominal hysterectomy, salphingoopherectomy, and unilateral or bilateral ovarian cystectomy. The most common presentation was an abdominal mass, followed by pain in the abdomen. The majority of the tumors were benign (69%), malignancy was observed in 24.5% of cases, and borderline tumors were seen in 5.4% of cases. Epithelial tumors were the commonest tumors, accounting for 70%, followed by germ cell tumors (21%) . Serous cystadenoma was the commonest benign tumor, followed by mature teratoma and serous cystadenocarcinoma. High-grade serous cystadenocarcinoma was the commonest malignant ovarian tumor (9%), followed by low-grade serous cystadenocarcinoma (4 .5%) and metastatic carcinoma of the ovary. Krukenberg tumor was seen in two cases, and a very rare case of sclerosing stromal tumor was seen in one of the cases. Conclusion: Ovarian neoplasms usually present with a variety of clinicomorphological and histological features. The most common neoplasm observed in the ovary is surface epithelial tumors, which are benign lesions that commonly affect reproductive age groups. Newer advancements like immunohistochemistry (IHC) and genetic studies have made the diagnosis easier and more precise. However, in institutes with limited resources, a histopathological study is still the gold standard in the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of these tumors. Categories: Obstetrics/Gynecology, Pathology, Oncology Keywords: 2020 who classification, metastasis, borderline, serous adenocarcinoma, ovarian neoplasm, who 2020 Introduction Two ovaries are situated on either side of the uterus in the pelvis. This is the most common yet complex site for incidents of neoplasm in women [1] . In 2018, ovarian carcinoma ranked as the eighth most common cancer diagnosed and cause of cancer death in women, with an estimated 295,000 ca

FAQs

What was the aim of the study?

To assess different histopathological variants of ovarian neoplasms according to the 2020 WHO classification and further analyze their frequency, patient age, clinical features, and distribution.

How many ovarian neoplasm cases were analyzed, and what was the age range?

A total of 110 histopathology cases were analyzed, with an age range of 11 to 70 years.

Which tumor category was most common in the results?

Epithelial tumors were the commonest, accounting for 70% of cases, followed by germ cell tumors (21%).

Why does the study emphasize histopathology in diagnosis?

It notes that immunohistochemistry and genetic studies can improve diagnostic precision, but in resource-limited institutes histopathology remains the gold standard for diagnosis and prognostic evaluation.

Sep 24, 2026

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