Determining the type of ovarian cancer is extremely important to decide the course of treatment. Every treatment plan is tailor-made based on the type of ovarian cancer the patient has. Therefore, the focus of the diagnosis is always to determine the type first. Ovarian cancer has been categorized under more than 30 types. In most cases, the type is identified based on the name of the cell from which the cancer originated. Based on their place of origin, the types of ovarian cancer can be categorized as:
- Ovarian epithelial cancer in which the cancerous tumors form in the epithelial cells which are found in the outer layer of the ovary
- Germ cell tumors
- Stromal cell tumors
Here’s an overview of ovarian cancer types
Ovarian epithelial cancer
This is the most common type of ovarian cancer accounting for 85 to 90 percent of ovarian cancer cases. However, most epithelial ovarian tumors are benign or non-cancerous. Usually, the epithelial cancer tumors are referred by their subtype –the undifferentiated, the clear cell, endometrioid, and mucinous. The cancerous cells in this type first affect the lining of the pelvis and abdomen before spreading to other parts of the body such as lungs and liver. The cells also have the potential to reach the brain and affect the skin.
The germ cell tumor
In some cases, tumors can start appearing in the germ cells, which are the egg-producing cells found in the ovaries. Commonly, these tumors are benign and the cancerous germ cell tumors account for less than 2 percent of the total ovarian cancers reported. This type of ovarian cancer most likely affects the teens and females who are in their 20s. The germ cell tumor is further divided into the following subtypes:
- Teratomas
- Dysgerminoma ovarian germ cell cancer
- Endodermal
The sex cord-stromal tumors
These tumors are the rarest types of ovarian cancer. These tumors are also referred to as sex cord tumors, ovarian stromal tumors, and sex cord-gonadal stromal tumors. This type of ovarian cancer accounts for only 1 percent of the total cases reported. The place of origin of these tumors is the stroma tissue cells which are responsible for the production of female hormones, estrogen and progesterone. In this type of ovarian cancer, the supply of estrogen increases to a great extent. This eventually leads to abnormal vaginal bleeding. The subtypes of the sex cord-stromal tumors are:
- Granulosa cell tumors
- Sertoli-Leydig tumors
- Granulosa-theca tumors
Rare ovarian cancer types
Ovarian cancer is a rare condition accounting for only 3 percent of cancer cases found in women. In addition to the aforementioned common ovarian cancer types, there are certain rare types of ovarian cancer as well. These include:
- Ovarian carcinoma
This type of ovarian cancer develops in the connective tissue of ovarian cells.
- Krukenberg tumors
This type of ovarian cancer spreads to the ovaries from other organs of the body.
This is a quick overview of ovarian cancer and its types. Always rely on a doctor’s diagnosis for proper treatment for your medical requirements.
