Borderline tumor

Author: Mikael Häggström

Gross processing

Depending on presentation:

• Ovary

• Ovarian tumor or ovarian cyst

Microscopic evaluation

Seromucinous borderline tumors; microscopic pictures showing a variety of cell types.
(a) Sometimes mucinous cells with voluminous cytoplasm can mimic goblet cells. Admixed lightly eosinophilic ciliated cells are almost always identifiable.
(b) Background of prominent neutrophilic infiltration. Admixture of mucinous cells, eosinophilic cells, and some clear cells, with mild or moderate nuclear atypia and stratifications.
(c) Indifferent cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm.
(d) Endometrioid type epithelium.
(e) Squamous epithelium.
(f) Clear cells. Focal hobnail appearance is also seen (right lower corner).

Exclude other causes of tumor or cyst. Further information: Ovarian tumor and Ovarian cyst

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  Typical features of an ovarian serous borderline tumor: Hierarchical branching, exfoliated cell clusters, calcifications, up to moderate atypia, and pseudostratified, crowded epithelium with hobnailing.
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  Borderline tumors may have non-invasive invaginations as shown. Otherwise, invasion renders a diagnosis of ovarian cancer

Microscopic report

Include at least:

• The diagnosis of an ovarian borderline tumor, with subtyping of serous versus mucinous if applicable
• Size

Example:

Left ovary, oophorectomy: Ovarian serous borderline tumor (9.1 cm).

Main page

• Main page of Patholines