Cystadenocarcinoma is a malignant form of a
cystadenoma
Cystadenoma (or "cystoma") is a type of cystic adenoma. When malignant, it is called cystadenocarcinoma.
Classification
When not otherwise specified, the ICD-O coding is 8440/0. However, the following classifications also exist:
By form
* sero ...
and is a
cancer
Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...
derived from glandular
epithelium, in which cystic accumulations of retained secretions are formed. The
neoplastic cells
A neoplasm () is a type of abnormal and excessive growth of tissue. The process that occurs to form or produce a neoplasm is called neoplasia. The growth of a neoplasm is uncoordinated with that of the normal surrounding tissue, and persists ...
manifest varying degrees of
anaplasia
Anaplasia (from grc, ἀνά ''ana'', "backward" + πλάσις ''plasis'', "formation") is a condition of cells with poor cellular differentiation, losing the morphological characteristics of mature cells and their orientation with respect to e ...
and invasiveness, and local extension and
metastases
Metastasis is a pathogenic agent's spread from an initial or primary site to a different or secondary site within the host's body; the term is typically used when referring to metastasis by a cancerous tumor. The newly pathological sites, then ...
occur. Cystadenocarcinomas develop frequently in the
ovaries
The ovary is an organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it may become fertilized by a sperm. There is an ovary () found on each side of the body. T ...
,
where pseudomucinous and serous types are recognized. Similar tumor histology has also been reported in the
pancreas
The pancreas is an organ of the digestive system and endocrine system of vertebrates. In humans, it is located in the abdomen behind the stomach and functions as a gland. The pancreas is a mixed or heterocrine gland, i.e. it has both an en ...
, although it is a considerably rarer entity representing 1–1.5% of all
Pancreatic cancer.
A cystadenocarcinoma contains complex multi-loculated
cyst
A cyst is a closed sac, having a distinct envelope and division compared with the nearby tissue. Hence, it is a cluster of cells that have grouped together to form a sac (like the manner in which water molecules group together to form a bubble) ...
but with exuberant solid areas in places. It usually presents with
omental metastases which cause
fluid accumulation in the peritoneal cavity (ascites). Cystadenocarcinomas can be classified into serous cystadenocarcinomas and mucinous cystadenomcarcinomas.
Serous cystadenocarcinomas
Among the ovarian tumours, serous tumours are most common, having a variegated appearance. Bilateral presentation is common with serous cystadenocarcinoma.
See also
*
Papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma
Papillary serous cystadenocarcinomas are the most common form of malignant ovarian cancer making up 26 percent of ovarian tumours in women aged over 20 in the United States.
As with most ovarian tumours, due to the lack of early signs of disease t ...
*
Ovarian serous cystadenoma
Ovarian serous cystadenoma, also (less precisely) known as serous cystadenoma, is the most common ovarian neoplasm, representing 20% of ovarian neoplasms, and is benign.
It has a very superficial resemblance to the most common type of ovarian can ...
References
External links
Gynaecological cancer
Pancreatic cancer
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