Ovarian serous cystadenoma

Ovarian serous cystadenoma
Classification and external resources
ICD-O:	8442/1
MeSH	D018293

Ovarian serous cystadenoma, also (less precisely) known as serous cystadenoma, is a very common benign ovarian tumour.

It has a very superficial resemblance to the most common type of ovarian cancer (serous carcinoma of the ovary) under the microscope; however, (1) it is virtually impossible to mix-up with its malignant counterpart (serous carcinoma), and (2) does not share genetic traits of indeterminate serous tumours, so called serous borderline tumours, that may transform into serous carcinoma.^[1]

Serous cystadenomas (of the ovary) are not related to serous cystadenomas of the pancreas, i.e. the presence of an ovarian or pancreatic one does not suggest an increased risk for the other one.

Diagnosis

Serous cystadenomas are diagnosed by histomorphologic examination, by pathologists. Grossly, they are, usually, unilocular cysts that contain clear, straw-coloured fluid. Microscopically, the cyst lining consists of a simple epithelium with cilia that may be columnar or flat.

See also

• Ovarian cancer
• Pancreatic serous cystadenoma
• Serous carcinoma

References

1. ^ Cheng, EJ.; Kurman, RJ.; Wang, M.; Oldt, R.; Wang, BG.; Berman, DM.; Shih, IeM. (Jun 2004). "Molecular genetic analysis of ovarian serous cystadenomas.". Lab Invest 84 (6): 778–84. doi:10.1038/labinvest.3700103. PMID 15077125.