Ovarian cancer is usually an adenocarcinoma – this implies that it is a carcinoma (i.e. arises from the lining over the ovary and as mentioned, whilst discussing uterine carcinoma, that the particular lining in question is a secreting one normally). Less common types of ovarian malignancy include germ cell tumours (dysgerminoma, choriocarcinoma, teratoma, endodermal sinus tumour etc). The commonest of these is the teratoma which unlike the testicular counterpart is usually benign. Another type of tumour of the ovary is the sex cord stromal tumours (which include the oestrogen secreting granulosa cell tumour and the androgen secreting androblastoma. These tumours tend to be of low grade , malignancy (i.e not as lethal as the commoner ovarian cancer. The subsequent discussion relates to the common type of ovarian carcinoma.
