Tumor Morphology

Epithelial Ovarian Tumors

About 90 percent of ovarian cancers arise in the covering of the ovary (epithelium) [3]. Following are common patterns and associated terms.

Common Epithelial Ovarian Tumor Patterns & Terms
Type of Epithelial Ovarian Tumor Morphological Pattern Terms
Serous Solid growth & slit-like spaces

High grade nuclei
Mucinous Mucin-secreting cells
Endometrioid Mimic endometrium

Tubular glands

Villi
Clear cell Clear cells

Hobnail cells
Transitional cell Squamoid nests

Epithelial tumors are often categorized as Benign, Borderline, or Malignant.




Ovarian Epithelial Tumors
Epithelial Tumor Type Benign Borderline Malignant
Serous Serous adenoma

Serous cystadenoma

Serous adenofibroma

Serous surface papilloma
Serous borderline tumor Low-grade serous adenocarcinoma

High-grade serous adenocarcinoma
Mucinous Mucinous cystadenoma

Mucinous adenofibroma
Mucinous borderline tumor Mucinous carcinoma
Endometrioid Endometriotic cyst

Endometrioid cytsadenoma

Endometrioid adenofibroma
Endometrioid borderline tumor Endometrioid carcinoma
Clear cell Clear cell cystadenoma

Clear cell
adenofibroma
Clear cell borderline tumor Clear cell carcinoma
Transitional cell Brenner tumor Borderline Brenner tumor Malignant Brenner tumor

Carcinoma (non-Brenner type)
Epithelial-Stromal N/A N/A Adenosarcoma

Malignant mixed müllerian tumor (MMMT)



Ovarian Tumors & Morphology Codes by Cell Type
Histology Also Known As Information Morphology Code
Epithelial Tumors
Serous cystadenocarcinoma   40% of all ovarian tumors 8441/3
Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma   12% of all ovarian tumors 8470/3
Endometrioid adenocarcinoma   15% of all ovarian tumors 8380/3
Clear cell adenocarcinoma Mesonephroid 6% of all ovarian tumors 8310/3
Brenner tumor     9000/3
Undifferentiated carcinoma   5% of all ovarian tumors 8020/3
Sex Cord Stromal Tumors (8590/1)
Granulosa cell tumor   Produces estrogens 8620/3
Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor   Benign Causes masculinization 8631/0
Androblastoma Arrhenoblastoma   8630/3
Gynadroblastoma     8632/1
Germ Cell Tumors: ~10% of all ovarian tumors
Teratoma   Mature vs. Immature 9082/3
Dysgerminoma   Children
Radiosensitive
9060/3
Endodermal sinus tumor Yolk sac tumor Aggressive
Chemosensitive
9071/3
Choriocarcinoma     9100/3
Embryonal carcinoma     9070/3
Mixed germ cell tumors     Codes vary

Updated: June 8, 2018