Preoperative Differentiation of Benign and Malignant Non-epithelial Ovarian Tumors: Clinical Features and Tumor Markers

Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2020 Sep;42(9):555-561. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1712993. Epub 2020 Sep 29.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the role of clinical features and preoperative measurement of cancer antigen 125 (CA125), human epididymis protein (HE4), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) serum levels in women with benign and malignant non-epithelial ovarian tumors.

Methods: One hundred and nineteen consecutive women with germ cell, sex cord-stromal, and ovarian leiomyomas were included in this study. The preoperative levels of biomarkers were measured, and then surgery and histopathological analysis were performed. Information about the treatment and disease recurrence were obtained from the medical files of patients.

Results: Our sample included 71 women with germ cell tumors (64 benign and 7 malignant), 46 with sex cord-stromal tumors (32 benign and 14 malignant), and 2 with ovarian leiomyomas. Among benign germ cell tumors, 63 were mature teratomas, and, among malignant, four were immature teratomas. The most common tumors in the sex cord-stromal group were fibromas (benign) and granulosa cell tumor (malignant). The biomarker serum levels were not different among benign and malignant non-epithelial ovarian tumors. Fertility-sparing surgeries were performed in 5 (71.4%) women with malignant germ cell tumor. Eleven (78.6%) patients with malignant sex cord-stromal tumors were treated with fertility-sparing surgeries. Five women (71.4%) with germ cell tumors and only 1 (7.1%) with sex cord-stromal tumor were treated with chemotherapy. One woman with germ cell tumor recurred and died of the disease and one woman with sex cord-stromal tumor recurred.

Conclusion: Non-epithelial ovarian tumors were benign in the majority of cases, and the malignant cases were diagnosed at initial stages with good prognosis. The measurements of CA125, HE4, and CEA serum levels were not useful in the preoperative diagnosis of these tumors.

Objetivo: Avaliar o papel das características clínicas e a medida pré-operatória dos níveis séricos de CA125, HE4, e CEA em mulheres com tumores de ovário não epiteliais benignos e malignos. MéTODOS: Cento e dezenove mulheres consecutivas com tumores ovarianos de células germinativas, do cordão sexual-estroma, e miomas ovarianos foram incluídas neste estudo. Os níveis pré-operatórios dos biomarcadores foram medidos, a cirurgia e a análise histopatológica foram realizadas. Informações sobre tratamento e recorrência da doença foram obtidas dos prontuários médicos das pacientes.

Resultados: Nossa amostra incluiu 71 mulheres com tumores de células germinativas (64 benignos e 7 malignos), 46 com tumores do cordão sexual-estroma (32 benignos e 14 malignos), e 2 com leiomiomas ovarianos. Entre os tumores benignos de células germinativas, 63 eram teratomas maduros, e, entre os malignos, quatro eram teratomas imaturos. Os tumores mais comuns do grupo do cordão sexual-estroma foram fibromas (benignos) e tumores de células da granulosa (malignos). Os níveis séricos dos biomarcadores não diferiram entre os tumores de ovário não epiteliais benignos e malignos. A cirurgia preservadora de fertilidade foi realizada em 5 (71,4%) mulheres com tumores malignos de células germinativas. Onze (78,6%) mulheres com tumores do cordão sexual-estroma malignos foram tratadas com cirurgia preservadora de fertilidade. Cinco (71,4%) mulheres com células germinativas e apenas 1 (7,1%) com tumor do cordão sexual-estroma foram tratadas com quimioterapia. Uma mulher com tumor de células germinativas recidivou e morreu da doença. Uma mulher com tumor do cordão sexual-estroma recidivou. CONCLUSãO: Os tumores de ovário não epiteliais foram benignos na maioria dos casos e os malignos foram diagnosticados em estágios iniciais, com bom prognóstico. A medida dos níveis séricos de CA125, HE4, e CEA não foram úteis no diagnóstico pré-operatório desses tumores.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / blood*
  • CA-125 Antigen / blood
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen / blood
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal* / blood
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal* / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal* / epidemiology
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal* / surgery
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / blood
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / epidemiology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors* / blood
  • Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors* / diagnosis
  • Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors* / epidemiology
  • Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors* / surgery
  • WAP Four-Disulfide Core Domain Protein 2 / analysis

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CA-125 Antigen
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen
  • WAP Four-Disulfide Core Domain Protein 2
  • WFDC2 protein, human