The most common type of ovarian cancer is ?

NORCET-7 Mains-2024

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Easy

Appeared in: NORCET-7 Mains-2024

Explanation

Epithelial ovarian cancers originate from the cells covering the outer surface of the ovary.
This group is the most prevalent, accounting for approximately 90% of all malignant ovarian tumors.
It is the main category of ovarian cancer, which includes several subtypes like serous, mucinous, and endometrioid tumors.

Option A: This is a broad histological term for cancer of glandular tissue. While many ovarian cancers are adenocarcinomas, it is not the most specific classification for the most common group.
Option B: Endometrioid tumors are a specific subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer. As a subtype, they are less common than the entire epithelial category.
Option D: Mucinous adenocarcinomas are another specific subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer. They are less common than both the overall epithelial category and the serous subtype.

Visual 1: Diagram: Classification of Ovarian Tumors. A pie chart or flowchart showing the breakdown into Epithelial (90%), Germ Cell, and Sex Cord-Stromal types with their relative percentages in malignant cases.
Visual 2: Illustration: Anatomy of the Ovary. A cross-section highlighting the outer surface epithelium, which is the origin site for epithelial ovarian cancers.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification and prevalence of ovarian tumors as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Identifying the histological type of ovarian cancer is critical for prognosis and guiding treatment. Different types respond differently to chemotherapy and targeted therapies.
Epithelial ovarian cancer is often called the 'silent killer' because its symptoms (e.g., bloating, pelvic pain, feeling full quickly) are vague and often appear only at an advanced stage, leading to a poor prognosis.
What if? If the patient was a 15-year-old girl, the most common type of ovarian malignancy would be a germ cell tumor (like dysgerminoma or teratoma), not an epithelial tumor, which is more common in older women.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrase in the question: 'most common type'. This indicates you need to recall the prevalence of different cancer types.
Analyze the options provided. Notice that 'Epithelial ovarian cancer' represents a broad category, while 'Endometrial tumours' and 'Mucinous adenocarcinomas' are more specific subtypes. 'Adenocarcinomas' is a general histological description.
Recall the main classification of ovarian tumors based on their cell of origin: epithelial, germ cell, and sex cord-stromal.
Remember that tumors arising from the surface epithelium are the most frequent.
Therefore, select 'Epithelial ovarian cancer' as it is the largest and most common category.
Eliminate the subtypes (Endometrial, Mucinous) because a subtype cannot be more common than its parent category. Eliminate 'Adenocarcinomas' because it's a less precise classification than 'Epithelial ovarian cancer' in this context.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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