Spectrum of Ovarian Tumours: A 12-Year Retrospective Study in a Diagnostic Laboratory in Upper Assam

Background: Ovarian tumours exhibit a wide morphological spectrum and remain one of the most common neoplasms encountered in gynaecologic pathology. Understanding their prevalence and histopathological patterns is essential for improved diagnostic accuracy and clinical management.Objective: To evaluate the incidence, age distribution, laterality, and histopathological spectrum of ovarian tumours in Upper Assam over a 12-year period using the WHO classification.Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted in a stand-alone diagnostic laboratory located in Upper Assam. A total of 53,351 surgical pathology specimens were reviewed, out of which 1,354 cases were identified as ovarian tumours. Data on patient age, laterality, and histopathological subtype were collected.Results: Epithelial tumours constituted the largest group (61.23%, n=829), followed by germ cell tumours (34.93%, n=473), sex cord-stromal tumours (2.95%, n=40), metastatic tumours (0.81%, n=11), and mesenchymal tumours (0.07%, n=1). The majority of tumours occurred in the 20–39 year peak reproductive age group (48.97%, n=663). Laterality analysis showed 88.26% unilateral and 11.74% bilateral cases. The most common benign tumours were serous cystadenoma (33.1%, n=448 cases) followed by mature cystic teratoma (18.5%, n=251 cases), while the most common malignant epithelial tumours were serous cystadenocarcinoma (4.1%, n=56 cases) and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma (1.6%, n=22 cases).Conclusion: Ovarian tumours in Upper Assam are predominantly epithelial, followed by germ cell tumours. The peak incidence in reproductive-age women and the relatively high proportion of germ cell tumours underscore the importance of early detection and accurate morphological diagnosis.