Aswathi Ramakrishnan1 , P.S. Jayalakshmy2
BACKGROUND Ovarian cancers are one of the common malignancies with high mortality rate. Most common epithelial ovarian tumours are serous tumours. Multiple oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes are involved in pathogenesis of ovarian tumours among which p53 mutation is frequently associated with high grade malignant serous tumours. We wanted to study clinicopathological parameters and morphologic features of serous tumours of ovary METHODS A cross sectional study of 90 serous tumours of ovary was done. Clinicopathological parameters, morphological features and immunohistochemical expression pattern of p53 were analysed. RESULTS Out of 90 cases, 61 cases were benign, 6 cases were borderline, 11 cases were low-grade, and 12 cases were high grade serous carcinomas. The youngest patient in the study was 18 years old and the oldest patient was 83 years old, with a mean age of 47.7 years. Out of 61 benign tumours, 59 showed normal CA-125 values. 2 benign tumours had mild increase in CA - 125 value. 5 among 6 borderline tumours showed CA-125 value between 35 - 100 U/ mL. All the malignant tumours showed CA-125 value more than 100 U / mL. CA-125 value in 91% of low-grade tumours and 42% of high-grade tumours was between 100 - 1000 U / mL. 58% of high-grade tumours had CA-125 value of more than 1000 U / mL. Majority of serous tumours were unilateral. But in the malignant category majority were bilateral. CONCLUSIONS Most common serous tumours were benign. Even though majority of benign and borderline groups were occurring below 55 yrs. and malignant tumours were after 55 yrs., no statistically significant association was obtained for age and grade of tumour. CA 125 value correlates well with tumour burden. Most of the high-grade tumours showed value of more than 1000 U / mL. (p value < 0.001). Significant difference in expression of p53 were seen among serous tumours. Majority of benign, borderline and low-grade carcinomas were negative for p 53 expression. High grade serous carcinoma showed statistically significant p 53 expression. (p value < 0.001). Immuno histochemical expression of p 53 could be considered as predictor of high-grade nature of serous tumour with a sensitivity of 50% and specificity of 81.8%.
