What causes ovarian tumors?

We all know that the function of female ovaries is mainly to discharge eggs. The eggs discharged by women are particularly important. Only when sperm and eggs combine can women become pregnant. Therefore, ovaries are also indispensable for women. However, some women suffer from ovarian tumors. Ovarian tumors not only cause irregular menstruation, but also cause female infertility. So what causes ovarian tumors?

It is one of the causes that has been studied more in recent years. Most cases are inherited by autosomal dominant trait. If a mother or sister has one or two cancers, the risk of developing ovarian malignancy is 50%.

1. Pathogenesis

The "continuous ovulation" carcinogenic theory: The incidence of ovarian tumors is higher in women with early menarche, late menopause, and nulliparous women, while the risk is lower in women who have given birth many times, breastfeed, or take oral contraceptives. This "continuous ovulation" carcinogenic theory believes that ovulation causes damage to ovarian epithelial cells, and repeated damage and repair processes promote cancer.

Genetic factors: This is one of the causes that has been studied more in recent years. Most cases are inherited by autosomal dominant trait. In the past 10 years, molecular genetic research has made great progress. Narod et al. found a specific gene on chromosome 17 that is susceptible to cancer in patients with hereditary breast-ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome, now called BRCA1. Recently, another susceptibility gene BRCA1 has been identified on chromosome 13. These two gene mutations make most epithelial ovarian cancers hereditary. There are three main types of hereditary ovarian cancers:

(2) 50% risk: If the patient has breast-ovarian malignant tumor syndrome and his mother or sister has one or both cancers, the patient’s risk of developing ovarian malignant tumor is 50%.

(3) Those with a family history of cancer: The risk of developing ovarian malignancies, endometrial cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer may increase.

2. Pathology

(1) Histological classification (Table 1):

(2) Histological grading: G1 is defined as the percentage of undifferentiated cells between 0% and 25% as determined by Broder; G2 is defined as the percentage of undifferentiated cells between 25% and 50% as G2; and G3 is defined as the percentage of undifferentiated cells >50%.