The utility of immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma

M. Comănescu, A. Potecă, G.D. Dascălu, E. Brătilă, M. Mitran

Rezumat: Ovarian cancer is a public health problem that affects women of reproductive age and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, accounting for 85% of all malignant ovarian neoplasms. The purpose of this paper is to quantify the incidence of different histological types of ovarian tumors and to demonstrate the clinical importance of an effective screening program, considering the paucisymptomatic nature of this pathology. This study represents a retrospective evaluation of 249 consecutive cases of epithelial ovarian tumors diagnosed and treated in the “Prof. Dr. Panait Sîrbu” Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bucharest, Romania, between 2014 and 2016, out of which we extracted the data related only to carcinomas (23 cases). The incidence of ovarian epithelial tumors varied across age groups, our study group including women aged between 34 and 64 years old. Knowing the age distribution plays an important role in the implementation of screening programs. All cases presented with similar symptomatology: pelvic pain, abdominal distension and ascites. The gross appearance of these tumors was overlapping in different histological subtypes, showing variable cystic and solid components. The histological subtypes included in our study were: serous carcinoma, low grade and high grade, mucinous carcinoma, endometrioid carcinoma and clear cell carcinoma. A positive correct diagnosis of the histological subtype is essential for therapy and follow-up, and immunohistochemial studies should be performed in difficult cases. There is a large series of antibodies used for the positive diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma, so the pathologist should know what algorithm to use in approaching a diagnosis in order to obtain a correct result.
Cuvinte cheie: epithelial, carcinoma, ovary, immunohistochemistry.