DISEASES OF THE OVARY

OVARIAN TUMOURS
May arise at any age , but commonest between 30-60 years of age.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

• Ovarian tumours are very liable to become malignant
• Ussually asymptomatic and painless in their stages.
• May grow to large size and may undergo mechanical complication(pressure symptoms,torsion or perforation)

The incidence of OvarianTumours varies from 1-3%
About 75% of these are BENIGN.

OVARIAN ENLARGEMENT
May be CYSTIC or SOLID
However; solid ovarian tumours are almost invariably NEOPLASTIC (Malignant)

SYMPTOMS
The majority of of Cystic Ovaries are SYMPTOMLESS

• Menstrual disturbanceFor rare tumours which secrete hormones (Endocrine effect) Most Ovarian tumours DO NOT affect Menstuation.
• Pain; torsing,rupture and infection
• Abdominal girth 
• Pressure symptoms
• Malignancy
• InfertilIty

CAUSES OF ENLAGERMENT OF OVARY

1. Hypertrophy
2. Corpus luten
3. Ovarian Pregnancy
4. Oophoritis
5. Endometriosis
6. Distension or Retention Cysts
7. Lutein Cysts of Pregnancy
8. Primarey Neoplasms of the Ovary
9. Secondary (Metastatic) Neoplasms

PATHOGENESIS OF OVARIAN TUMOURS

The Principal of Ovarian Tissues are;

1. Epithelial Cells deriverd from the Coelomic Epithelium
2. Oocytes deriverd from the Germ Cells
3. Mesenchymal elements from the Gonadal Stroma

NB; For some unknown reasons ABNORMAL GROWTH may occur from any of the elements ; and CLASSIFICATION is based on the structure from which the growth occurs

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF OVARIAN TUMOURS

Small Tumours lying in the Pelvic cavity

• Full bladder
• Pregnancy early
• Uterine Fibroids
• Chronic salpingitis ( large hydrosalpinx)
• Pelvic kidney

Large Abnormal Ovarian Tumours

• Obesity
• Ascites
• Pregnancy -late
• Mesenteric cysts
• Hydronephrosis
• Hydrosalpinx.