A prospective study of risk factors and histopathological spectrum of patients with ovarian tumors admitted in a tertiary care hospital

Objectives: This prospective study was conducted to evaluate risk factors and histopathological spectrum of patients with ovarian tumors. Methods: This study was conducted in NSCB Medical College, Jabalpur from February 2019 to July 2020 on 120 subjects with ultrasonographically diagnosed ovarian tumors. Relevant history was obtained and all the risk factors for ovarian tumors were recorded. Gynecological examination was done and investigations were recorded. Subjects followed upto collection of histopathological report and correlation of various risk factors with histopathology done. Results: Out of 120 subjects, malignant and benign ovarian tumors were 39.16% and 60.83% respectively. The mean age of patients with benign ovarian tumor was 40.5 years and for malignant tumor was 45.5 years. The risk factors that were found associated with ovarian malignancy were early menarche (55.31%), late menopause (66.66%), history of infertility (55.31%), history of laparotomy for ovarian tumors (25.53%), family history of ovarian (46.80%) and breast cancer (4.25%). Majority of patients with benign (82.19%) as well as malignant ovarian tumors (52.57%) were not having history of tubal ligation. Benign serous cystadenoma was the commonest histopathological pattern in the present study contributing to 27.5% (33 cases). Among malignant tumors serous cystadenocarcinoma was the most common type accounting for 20% (24 cases), followed by mucinous carcinoma 13.3% (16 cases). Conclusion: Identification of risk factors for ovarian cancer is essential for prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of ovarian tumors because this cancer is predominantly detected at late stages when treatment is difficult. Determination of various histopathologic patterns of ovarian tumors helps in diagnosis, management as well as prognosis of ovarian tumors.