Cancer originating in or on the ovary From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ovarian cancer is a cancerous tumor of an ovary.[10] It may originate from the ovary itself or more commonly from communicating nearby structures such as fallopian tubes or the inner lining of the abdomen.[3][11] The ovary is made up of three different cell types including epithelial cells, germ cells, and stromal cells.[12] When these cells become abnormal, they have the ability to divide and form tumors. These cells can also invade or spread to other parts of the body.[13] When this process begins, there may be no or only vague symptoms.[1] Symptoms become more noticeable as the cancer progresses.[1][14] These symptoms may include bloating, vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, abdominal swelling, constipation, and loss of appetite, among others.[1] Common areas to which the cancer may spread include the lining of the abdomen, lymph nodes, lungs, and liver.[15]
Ovarian cancer | |
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Micrograph of a mucinous ovarian carcinoma stained by H&E | |
Specialty | Gynecologic Oncology |
Symptoms | Early: vague[1] Later: bloating, pelvic pain, constipation, abdominal swelling, loss of appetite[1] |
Usual onset | Usual age of diagnosis 63 years old[2] |
Types |
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Risk factors | Never having children, hormone therapy after menopause, fertility medication, obesity, genetics[4][5][6] |
Diagnostic method | Tissue biopsy[1] |
Treatment | Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy[1] |
Prognosis | Five-year survival rate c. 49% (US)[7] |
Frequency | 1.2 million (2015)[8] |
Deaths | 161,100 (2015)[9] |
The risk of ovarian cancer increases with age. Most cases of ovarian cancer develop after menopause.[16] It is also more common in women who have ovulated more over their lifetime.[17] This includes those who have never had children, those who began ovulation at a younger age and those who reach menopause at an older age.[5] Other risk factors include hormone therapy after menopause, fertility medication, and obesity.[4][6] Factors that decrease risk include hormonal birth control, tubal ligation, pregnancy, and breast feeding.[6] About 10% of cases are related to inherited genetic risk; women with mutations in the genes BRCA1 or BRCA2 have about a 50% chance of developing the disease.[5] Some family cancer syndromes such as hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome also increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer.[16] Epithelial ovarian carcinoma is the most common type of ovarian cancer, comprising more than 95% of cases.[5] There are five main subtypes of ovarian carcinoma, of which high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) is the most common.[5] Less common types of ovarian cancer include germ cell tumors[18] and sex cord stromal tumors.[5] A diagnosis of ovarian cancer is confirmed through a biopsy of tissue, usually rem