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Background: Borderline Brenner tumor of the ovary is a rare entity characterized by papillary structures with a fibro-vascular core, covered by a transitional epithelium, and by the absence of stromal infiltration. It is associated, by definition, with a benign component of Brenner tumor., Case: We report a case of a 68-year-old woman, with a right ovarian mass, whose morphology and immuno-profile were consistent with the diagnosis of a borderline Brenner tumor. Immunohistochemistry carried out on selected markers may help to formulate the diagnosis, more than the molecular analyses.

Brenner tumor is a rare tumor that represents approximately 1.5% of the tumors of ovary. It is defined as a tumor of transitional cells composed by urothelial cells arranged in solid or cystic groups absorbed in a fibrous stroma. It classifies in benign Brenner tumor (95%), borderline (3-4%) and malignant (1%). Let's sense beforehand the clinical case of a 46-year-old patient who underwent surgery having an adnexal mass of which the pathological intraoperative report brought a benign Brenner tumor.

Objective: Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) are treated surgically like malignant ovarian tumors with hysterectomy, salpingectomy, omentectomy, and multiple random peritoneal biopsies in addition to removal of the ovaries. It is, however, unknown how often removal of macroscopically normal-appearing tissues leads to the finding of microscopic disease. To evaluate the value of random biopsies, omentectomy, and hysterectomy in operations for BOT, the macroscopic and microscopic findings in a cohort of these patients were reviewed retrospectively., Materials: Women treated for BOT at Odense University Hospital from 2007 to 2011 were eligible for this study. Data were extracted from electronic records. Intraoperative assessment of tumor spread (macroscopic disease) and the microscopic evaluation of removed tissues were the main outcome measures., Results: The study included 75 patients, 59 (78.7%) in International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I, 9 (12%) in stage II, and 7 (9.3%) in stage III. The histologic subtypes were serous (68%), mucinous (30.7%), and Brenner type (1.3%). Macroscopically radical surgery was performed in 62 patients (82.7%), and 46 (61.3%) received complete staging. The surgeon's identification of macroscopic tumor spread to the contralateral ovary and the peritoneum had a sensitivity of 88% and 69.2% and a specificity of 90.2% and 92.5%, respectively. The macroscopic assessment of the uterine surface, the omentum, and the pelvic and para-aortal lymph nodes was not a good predictor of microscopic disease. During follow-up, 4 patients (5.3%) relapsed with no relation to surgical radicality or the extent of staging procedures., Conclusions: Ovaries and peritoneal surfaces with a macroscopically normal appearance rarely contain a microscopic focus of BOT.

Brenner tumors are ovarian tumors, usually benign, containing epithelium that resembles transitional epithelium. As with other epithelial tumors there exist frankly malignant tumors and tumors that display greater proliferation than the benign Brenner tumors but lack destructive infiltrative growth, and these have been designated 'atypical proliferative' (borderline) Brenner tumors. There have been no well-documented cases of atypical proliferative Brenner tumors that have exhibited malignant behavior. Based on shared morphologic features it is generally believed that atypical proliferative Brenner tumors develop from benign Brenner tumors. The aim of the present study was to confirm this impression by investigating the immunohistochemical and molecular genetic features of benign and atypical proliferative Brenner tumors. Immunohistochemical staining for p16, fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) for CDKN2A (p16-encoding gene) and mutational analysis of the genes commonly mutated in ovarian tumors were performed. p16 immunostaining was positive in the epithelial component of 12 (92%) of 13 benign Brenner tumors, but completely negative in all 7 atypical proliferative Brenner tumors. FISH identified homozygous deletion of CDKN2A in the epithelial component of all atypical proliferative Brenner tumors, but CDKN2A was retained in all benign Brenner tumors. Two PIK3CA somatic mutations were detected in the stromal component in 1 (5%) of 20 Brenner tumors and 3 somatic mutations (1 in KRAS and 2 in PIK3CA) were identified in the atypical epithelial component of 2 (29%) of 7 atypical proliferative Brenner tumors. In summary, our findings suggest that loss of CDKN2A and, to a lesser extent, KRAS and PIK3CA somatic mutations have a role in the progression of a benign to an atypical proliferative Brenner tumor.

Brenner tumor accounts for 1.5 to 2.5% of ovarian tumors. Nearly all are benign and 1% malignant. Less than twenty-five cases of borderline Brenner tumor have been reported worldwide. Our case is the first one related to a bilateral ovarian serous cystadenofibroma and endometrioid adenocarcinoma. This unusual case increases the limited data for borderline Brenner tumors.

The ovaries can be affected by a vast variety of tumours, which may be benign or malignant, solid or cystic. Although ultrasonography is often the first examination performed in the evaluation of gynaecological conditions, magnetic resonance imaging is nowadays the most accurate imaging technique in the characterization of ovarian masses. Once the ovarian origin of a pelvic mass has been determined, the detection of any fibrous component within the lesion significantly reduces the spectrum of aetiologies that should be considered. Fibrotic tissue usually displays marked low-signal intensity on T2-weighted sequences at MRI, and enhancement is mostly moderate after intravenous administration of gadolinium chelates. This review aims to provide the main diagnoses to consider at MRI whenever an ovarian tumour, both purely solid or solid and cystic, contains a fibrous component, even if minimally abundant. The corresponding key imaging features are provided., (Copyright © 2013 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Brenner tumours (BTs), like other epithelial ovarian tumours, are thought to develop from the ovarian surface epithelium., Aim and Methods: We hypothesised that BTs arise from transitional metaplasia near the tuboperitoneal junction which, when embedded in the ovary as Walthard cell nests, may progress to BTs. The aim of this study was to validate this hypothesis by a morphologic and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis., Results: The IHC analysis revealed that fallopian tube secretory cells, transitional metaplasia, Walthard cell nests and the epithelial component of BTs shared a similar IHC profile, consistently expressing AKR1C3 (an enzyme involved in androgen biosynthesis) and androgen receptor, but not calretinin. The tumour stromal cells that immediately surrounded the epithelial nests showed strong expression of calretinin, inhibin and steroidogenic factor 1 (markers of steroidogenic cells) in the majority of BTs. Using a highly sensitive immunofluorescent staining method, we detected small groups of cilia in transitional metaplasia and Walthard cell nests, multifocal stretches of cilia and/or ciliated vacuoles in benign BTs and well-developed cilia in atypical proliferative BTs., Conclusions: Our findings suggest a tubal origin of BTs through transitional metaplasia and Walthard cell nests, based on their anatomic proximity, similar IHC profile and the presence of cilia. In addition, we hypothesise a role of androgenic stimulation in the pathogenesis of BT, based on the IHC staining pattern of calretinin, inhibin and steroidogenic factor 1 expressed in the luteinised stromal cells surrounding the epithelial nests of the tumours, and AKR1C3 and androgen receptor expressed in both the epithelial and stromal components., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ovarian tumors with functioning stroma often show estrogenic manifestations. The range of serum estrogen level, however, has not been analyzed, nor the correlation with the stromal morphology. We reviewed the preoperative serum level of estradiol (E2) in 20 postmenopausal ovarian tumors that contained lutein- or theca-like cells in the stroma. Tumor histology included mucinous (n=7), endometrioid (n=4), clear (n=4), or Brenner tumor (n=2), carcinosarcoma (n=2), and Krukenberg tumor (n=1). Overall, the preoperative serum level of E2 ranged widely from 12.1 to 162.4 pg/mL (reference range, 10-30 pg/mL). The range of serum E2 was 24.9 to 162.4 pg/mL (mean, 58.0 pg/mL) in 7 tumors containing lutein-like cells, and 12.1 to 157.8 pg/mL (mean, 57.0 pg/mL) in 13 tumors containing theca-like cells alone. There was no significant difference in the serum E2 level between the 2 groups. To determine whether the functioning stroma is capable of final conversion of androgens to estrogens, the expression of P450 aromatase was examined immunohistochemically. P450 aromatase was exclusively expressed in the stromal cells, both lutein- and theca-like cells, in 16 tumors. In all tumors, however, it was focally or sparsely distributed, and there was no correlation between the immunoreactivity for P450 aromatase and the serum E2 level. These findings indicate that the functioning stroma, regardless of cell morphology, has a capacity for converting androgens to estrogens, but a significant amount of serum estrogens is finally qualified in the aromatase-rich peripheral tissues.

Ovarian transitional cell tumors include Brenner tumors (BTs) and transitional cell carcinoma (TCC; non-BTs) according to the most recent World Health Organization classification. However, it remains a matter of debate whether TCC represents a distinct entity or a morphologic variant of high-grade serous adenocarcinoma (HG-SC). The purpose of this study was to resolve the above question by clarifying the morphologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular features of TCC. We reviewed 488 cases of epithelial ovarian carcinomas and reclassified them on the basis of the most recent World Health Organization classification with the modifications proposed by Köbel and colleagues, and 35 cases of TCC were identified; 25 and 6 TCCs were admixed with HG-SC and endometrioid adenocarcinoma (EC), respectively, and the remaining 4 cases were pure TCC. TCC components were not observed in any clear cell carcinomas or mucinous adenocarcinomas. Only 2 cases of malignant BT were identified. In addition to TCCs, malignant BTs, and related adenocarcinomas, benign and borderline BTs were included in the following immunohistochemical and molecular analyses. Immunohistochemically, pure TCCs, TCCs admixed with HG-SC, and pure HG-SCs were characterized by frequent aberrant p53 expression (diffuse or null pattern) and WT1+/ER+/PR+/IMP2+ immunophenotype, whereas BTs, including benign, borderline, and malignant BTs, were characterized by lack of aberrant p53 expression and WT1-/ER-/PR-/IMP2- immunophenotype. In contrast to the BTs, pure ECs and TCCs admixed with EC showed an ER+/PR+ immunophenotype. Nearly all the tumors with a TP53 gene mutation by molecular analysis showed aberrant p53 staining patterns. In conclusion, TCC is not a distinct entity but a poorly differentiated form of serous or EC, as (1) most TCCs coexist with HG-SC (mostly) or EC (occasionally), and (2) the immunophenotype and molecular features are similar to those of HG-SC or EC but different from those of BTs.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the MR imaging findings of ovarian mucinous cystadenomas coexisting with benign Brenner tumors., Materials and Methods: MR images with a 1.5-T unit obtained in five consecutive patients (age range, 51-72 years; mean age, 61 years) with surgically confirmed ovarian mucinous cystadenomas coexisting with benign Brenner tumors were retrospectively reviewed for the presence, configuration, and signal intensity of cystic and solid components of the lesions., Results: Tumors ranged in size from 7.5 to 22.1 cm (mean, 13.5 cm). In four patients (80%), the size of mucinous cystadenoma (range 6.4-22.1 cm; mean, 12.5 cm) was larger than that of Brenner tumor (range 0.2-9.1 cm; mean, 2.8 cm). All patients (100%) had cystic, and three (60%) had solid components. Four patients (80%) showed multilocular cystic, and one (20%) showed unilocular cystic appearance. MR imaging findings were classified into three patterns: (1) a bulky solid mass adjacent to the cystic component, (2) a mural nodule at the periphery of the cystic component, and (3) a cystic component without a detectable solid component. All four multilocular cystic areas exhibited "stained glass" appearances on both T1- and T2-weighted images, and all three solid areas showed homogeneous hypointensity on T2-weighted images., Conclusion: Mucinous cystadenomas were often larger than the coexisting benign Brenner tumors. Mucinous cystadenomas coexisting with benign Brenner tumors should be considered when multilocular or unilocular cystic components are accompanied by homogeneously hypointense solid components on T2-weighted images.

Introduction: Epithelial ovarian cancer are the most frequent of ovarian cancer, their prognosis is very bad. The aim of this study is to describe the diagnosis, the treatment and to assess the survival rate of the patients., Methods: It was a retrospective study realized at the Cancer Institute of Dakar from December 2000 to January 2007. We have collected 117 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. The mean age was 49 years. Patients were comprised: 22 stage I, 32 stage II, 35 stage III and 26 stage IV. Primary surgery was performed to 34 patients and the other patients were treated with chemotherapy and surgery. The survival rate was assessed by Kaplan-Meier method and the Logrank test had allowed to compare the survival among age and optimal surgery., Results: Optimal surgery R0 was done in 20 cases and surgical resection R2 was performed in 45 cases. Pathological exam had found 65 serous cystadenocarcinoma, 28 mucinous cystadenocarcinoma and 21 endometrioid cystadenocarcinoma, one malignant tumor of Brenner. Overall survival at five years was 13.3%. The survival among optimal surgery was 16.3 and 2.3% for suboptimal surgery. There was no significant difference of the survival among patients who were less than 40 years old (P = 0.334)., Conclusion: Prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer is worse in Senegal as like as in the world. To improve the survival of our patients, we must detect the early diagnosis of these tumors and to introduce the neoadjuvant chemotherapy before optimal surgery.

Ovarian malignant Brenner tumors are rare neoplasms that are typically admixed with benign and borderline Brenner tumor elements. We report 3 cases of an unusual variant of malignant Brenner tumor where the infiltrative malignant component arose directly from a benign Brenner tumor rather than from borderline elements and did not exhibit a desmoplastic stromal response. Borderline elements were present in 1 case, but the invasive component did not arise from these. Our cases highlight that an absence of a borderline element should not dissuade the pathologist from diagnosing a malignant Brenner tumor.

Psammocarcinoma of the ovary is a rare serous neoplasm, with only 32 cases reported in the international literature. Characteristically, this tumour shows extensive formation ofpsammoma bodies, low-grade cytological features, and invasion of the ovarian stroma, peritoneum or intraperitoneal viscera. The behaviour of this entity is unpredictable, with benign, low malignant and metastatic potential. Herein the authors report a case ofpsammocarcinoma of the ovary with homolateral serous cystoadenofibroma and thecoma, which were associated with Brenner tumour and adenofibroma of the contralateral ovary, in a 78-year-old woman. Thus, this example shows an unpredictable tumour associated with multiple benign epithelial neoplasms and a benign stromal tumour. Moreover, this example of psammocarcinoma is very interesting because it measures only 1.5 x 0.5 x 1.5 cm and, to the best of the author's knowledge, represents the smallest case ofpsammocarcinoma described so far in the literature.

Purpose of Investigation: In this paper, the authors describe a rare case of four simultaneous ovarian tumors., Materials and Methods: A 52-year-old postmenopausal woman underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-ophorectomy. Multiple slides from the ovaries were examined., Results: Histological examination revealed the presence of three ovarian tumors on the right ovary, of the following types: cystadenoma, mucinous borderline ovarian tumor and mature teratoma, and also a benign Brenner tumor on the left ovary., Conclusion: Pathologists must examine multiple sections of both ovaries, regardless of the macroscopic or clinical specimen's appearance, in order to exclude the presence of malignancy, which could alter the surgical approach. Particular attention should also be paid to the frozen section of the contralateral ovary, as depending on the result, it could change the surgical approach. From the surgeon's perspective, bilateral salpingo-ophorectomy with total hysterectomy should be the treatment of choice in postmenopausal women with multiple ovarian tumors. The diagnosis of a malignant or borderline tumor on a normal-appearing ovary changes the radicality of the surgical approach. In such a case, staging surgery, including omentectomy, multiple peritoneal biopsies, and washes are required.

Objectives: To describe clinical and ultrasound features of Brenner tumors of the ovary., Methods: In this retrospective study, the databases of the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) studies and one tertiary center were searched to identify patients who had undergone an ultrasound scan before surgery for an adnexal mass that proved to be a Brenner tumor. Twenty-eight patients with 29 Brenner tumors were included, most of which had been collected within the framework of the IOTA studies. An experienced ultrasound examiner reviewed available ultrasound images (available for 14 tumors), searching for a pattern specific to Brenner tumors., Results: Most patients were postmenopausal and asymptomatic. Twenty-four (83%) tumors were benign, two (7%) were borderline and three (10%) were malignant. Most benign tumors (17/24, 71%) contained solid components and manifested no or minimal blood flow on Doppler examination (19/24, 79%). Information about calcifications was available for 15 benign tumors, and in 13 (87%) calcifications were present. The five borderline and invasively malignant tumors contained solid components less often than did the benign ones (3/5, 60%) and were more richly vascularized on Doppler examination. Information about calcifications was available for four borderline or invasively malignant tumors, and in three (75%) calcifications were present., Conclusion: We failed to demonstrate ultrasound features specific to Brenner tumors. A prospective study is needed to determine if ultrasound features of calcifications can discriminate between Brenner tumors and other types of ovarian tumor., (Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Transitional cell tumors of the ovary include benign, borderline (atypically proliferating), and malignant Brenner tumors (BT), as well as transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Some TCCs could conceivably be examples of malignant BT where the benign component has been overgrown. Our objectives were: (A) compare the immunophenotypes of BT and TCC and (B) examine a large cohort of ovarian carcinomas for cases with the immunophenotype of BT and transitional features but lacking a benign BT component. Seven BTs (3 benign, 3 borderline/atypically proliferating, 1 malignant) and 7 TCCs were stained for WT1, ER, p53, and p16(INK4a). The BTs were negative for WT1, p53 overexpression, ER (except for weak positivity in 1), and negative or weakly positive for p16(INK4a). In contrast, the TCCs stained as follows: 4/6 positive for WT1, 5/7 positive for ER, 2/7 strongly positive for p16(INK4a), and 6/7 showed abnormal p53, an immunophenotype resembling that of high-grade serous carcinoma. A database of 500 cases of ovarian carcinoma was searched and 116 showed an immunoprofile characteristic of BT: WT1 negative, ER negative, p16(INK4a) or weak positive, p53 negative (77 clear cell carcinoma, 14 endometrioid carcinoma, 12 mucinous carcinoma, 8 high-grade serous carcinoma). None of these tumors showed transitional features on review, indicating that if examples of malignant BT where there has been overgrowth of benign BT components exist, they are rare. Our results suggest that BT and TCC are unrelated, and should not be combined for classification purposes.

Objective: The borderline ovarian Brenner tumor (BOBT) of the ovary is a rare tumor, and fewer than 25 cases have been reported in the literature. The aim of this study was to determine the prognosis of a series of BOBT collected in 2 reference centers., Methods: A retrospective review of patients with BOBT treated or referred to our institutions. A centralized histological review by a reference pathologist and data on the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients were required for inclusion., Results: Ten patients were identified between 2000 and 2010. The median age of patients was 69 years (range, 52-84 years). Eight patients had pure BOBT and 2 had mixed histotype (mucinous and Brenner tumor). All patients had unilateral tumor and a stage I disease. No case of stromal microinvasion or intraepithelial carcinoma was observed. Among 5 patients with data on the follow-up, 1 lethal recurrence (50 months after initial surgery) was observed (the first reported in the literature)., Conclusions: During the management of BOBT, peritoneal staging surgery is not required because all patients reported in the present series (and all but one in the literature) had stage I disease. One recurrence had occurred in this retrospective series. Nevertheless, among 35 cases (including those in the present study) reported in the literature with outcomes, this tumor carries a good prognosis. The power of this conclusion is, however, limited because of the relatively small number of patients studied (but this is a rare entity) and the short follow-up period.

Objective: Most Brenner tumors are benign, with only 1% being malignant. In this study we report on 13 cases with malignant Brenner tumor of the ovary and discuss the clinical, demographic and histologic features., Method: Thirteen patients with malignant Brenner tumor of the ovary who were treated at Selçuk University Gynecology Department over a 6-year period from January 2004 to December 2010 were retrospectively analysed from hospital electronic medical records. Clinical and pathologic findings were reported., Results: The median age of the study population was 55.69 ± 11.81 years (range 43-79 years). Most of the patients presented with abdominal pain (6/13, 46.2%). The mean size of the ovarian tumors was 9.19 ± 1.34 cm (range 4-16.5 cm). Six patients (46.2%) were in stage III, five (38.5%) in stage I, and two (15.4%) in stage IV. Ten patients (76.9%) received chemotherapy. The mean follow-up was 38.38 ± 23.25 months (range 5-84 months). During follow-up, recurrence was detected in 7 patients (53.8%). The mean recurrence time was 23.8 ± 14.46 months (range 11-48 months)., Conclusion: In our study, we found that diagnosis was at an advanced stage, and recurrence rate was high. The mainstay of treatment is surgical resection, but the exact regimen and benefit of adjuvant therapy remain unknown.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological and immunopathological features of Brenner ovarian tumors., Materials and Methods: Thirty cases of Brenner ovarian tumors were examined in our laboratory among 1,680 cases of ovarian tumors, representing 1.5% of all tumors examined. Blocks of paraffin-embedded tumor tissue for all cases were available for additional immunohistochemical stain by a Ventana autoimmunostainer. Moreover, antibodies for Uroplakine III (cellmarque AU-1 clone, 1:25) Chromogen (monosan clone 5H7,1:25) WT1 (novocastra, clone 3F-H2, 1:25) NSE (DAKO, clone BB5/NC/V1-H14, 1:50), CK20 (DAKO, clone Ks20.8, 1:50),CK7 (Zymed 1:25, clone V-TL12/30)were used., Results: The mean age of the patients was 51.4 years ranging from 16 to 82 years. The tumor was unilateral in 28 cases (16/28 in the right ovary and 12/28 in the left ovary) and bilateral in two cases. Twenty-eight cases (93%) were benign and two (7%) were proliferating (borderline) tumors. Seventeen cases (56%) were pure Brenner tumors, measuring from 0.5 to 2.5 cm and 13 cases (44%) were mixed tumors consisting of a Brenner tumor element and a mucinous ovarian tumor (10/13 cases, 53.8%) and a germ cell tumor in 3/13 cases. The largest diameter of the mixed tumors ranged from 7 to 22 cm. The largest area consisting of Brenner elements measured 7 cm. The immunoprofile of Brenner tumor cell was cytokeratine-7 positive (30/30 cases) cytokeratine-20 negative in the Brenner cell element but positive in the mucinous component in 5/7 cases of mixed Brenner tumors, focally WT-1 positive (5/30 cases), NSE negative (0/30 cases) and focally chromogranine positive (6/30 cases), Uroplakin-III positive in 23/30 cases, with faint cytoplasmatic or luminal distribution. In conclusion, Brenner ovarian tumors are unilateral, small and benign neoplasms in their majority and present specific histopathological and immunopathological characteristics and mixed forms with other epithelial and germ cell neoplasms. This could be explained as a form of metaplasia or a diverse histogenesis from surface epithelium and/or the germ cell ovarian component.

Ovarian Brenner tumors are typically of surface epithelial-stromal origin; however, cases associated with mature cystic teratoma and/or struma ovarii possibly have a teratomatous derivation. Although argyrophil cells have been described in ovarian Brenner tumors and in urinary bladder epithelium, we are not aware of any previous reports of carcinoid arising from a malignant Brenner tumor of the ovary. In this study, we describe an 85-year-old woman who had a low-grade malignant Brenner tumor with progressive proliferation of neuroendocrine cells and transformation to trabecular carcinoid as demonstrated by immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy.

Ovarian tumor composed only of Brenner tumor and struma ovarii is very rare; only 6 cases have been reported in the English literature, to the best of the author's knowledge. A 66-year-old woman underwent right oophorectomy because of torsion of right ovarian cyst. Macroscopically, the ovarian cyst was hemorrhagic and red. Cystic content was hemorrhagic fluid. Microscopically, the cyst walls were composed only of Brenner tumor (50% in area) and struma ovarii (50% in area). Hemorrhage and ischemic changes were seen. Other elements were not recognized. No malignant transformation was noted. These two elements were separately present, and no mergers between them were recognized. Immunohistochemically, the Brenner tumor element was positive for cytokeratins (AE1/3 and CAM5.2) and Ki67 (labeling=3%), but negative for thyroglobulin, TTF-1, p53, CA125, and vimentin. The struma ovarii element was positive for cytokeratins (AE1/3 and CAM5.2), thyroglobulin, TTF-1 and Ki67 (labeling=5%), but negative for p53, CA125 and vimentin. The findings suggests that there were cases of ovarian cyst composed only of Brenner tumor and struma ovarii, that such a case may be monodermal mature cystic teratoma or the Brenner tumor element was derived from surface epithelium in the preexisting struma ovarii, and that such a tumor manifest as cystic torsion.

Introduction: Brenner tumors are rare transitional cell tumors of the ovary. They are usually benign neoplasms, of solid or solid-cystic structure and small size. We describe the case of a benign, predominantly cystic Brenner tumor measuring 39 cm in diameter., Case Report: A 62-year-old woman presented to the outpatient visit complaining about vague abdominal symptoms such as constipation and meteorism. Ultrasonography and CT scan showed the presence of a voluminous cystic mass, with fluid content, displacing other intra-abdominal organs. The patient underwent elective surgical excision, and there were no complications. Definitive pathological examination showed a metaplastic benign Brenner tumor., Conclusion: The largest benign Brenner tumors reported in literature have been up to 30 cm in size, and greater size has been thought to be a predictor of malignancy. We have seen, however, that it is possible for larger lesions of this type to have a completely benign behavior; consequently, a benign nature should not be excluded even in the event of a large ovarian lesion.

Unlabelled: There is limited information on borderline ovarian tumor detected intra-surgically and its most favorable treatment in relation with global radiation and climate changes., Aim: To study the pre-surgery and intra-surgery differentiation criteria of borderline ovarian tumors from invasive carcinoma, and to make a very complex analysis of the frequency, distribution, and variation in time of global radiation, temperature, and precipitation in North-East Romania., Material and Method: The 54 patients (age range 20-78 years, mean age 46 years) included in this study had borderline ovarian tumors surgically treated during the last 22 years (January 1988 - December 2009) at the 4th Gynecological Clinic at Iaşi, and representing 4.87% of the total 1107 ovarian tumors detected and treated during this interval. The histological types were: serous (18 cases), mucinous (27 cases), mixed (8 cases), and Brenner tumor (1 case). In order to analyze the impact of climate changes on borderline ovarian tumors a thorough study on the frequency of global radiation in relation with climate changes based on data recorded in the last 55 years was also carried out., Results: The distribution of these cases depending on when surgery was performed was analyzed. In our study the frequency of ovarian borderline tumors (4.87%) is lower than in similar reports in the literature being due, in our opinion, to the influence of global radiation in relation with climate changes., Conclusions: In our study global radiation is probably responsible for a progression to invasive carcinoma in 0.7% of the borderline ovarian tumors.

Ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumours (SLCT), also termed arrhenoblastomas, are the most frequent virilising tumours in women of reproductive age. Very rare secretory Brenner tumours (BT) have been described, generally after the menopause. A 31-year-old woman sought medical advice for secondary amenorrhoea, progressive hirsutism and a 5-year history of virilisation syndrome with clitoromegaly. Testosterone was markedly high (285 ng/dl, N<85) with moderate elevation of delta 4-androstenedione (D4AD) (311 ng/dl, N <270), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) (366 μg/dl, N <340) and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) (275 ng/dl). LH was 9 IU/l, FSH 4.3 IU/l, estradiol 60 pg/ml and progesterone 314 ng/100 ml. Cortisol was decreased (1.3 μg/dl) after the dexamethasone suppression test. Pelvic MRI showed a 5-cm right ovarian tumour with a 2.5 cm nodular component and cystic areas, and two nodules measuring 11 mm and 15 mm above the right and left ovaries. After right ovariectomy by laparoscopy, pathological examination concluded on a 3-cm SLCT and a 2-cm BT; the nodules above the ovaries were dysembryoplastic cysts. Postoperatively, testosterone level was normal after 24 h (26 ng/dl), estradiol and progesterone rapidly decreased, cyclic secretion then resumed and the patient menstruated at day 27. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an ovarian tumour associating a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour and a Brenner tumour in a patient with virilisation syndrome which resolved after ovariectomy.

Unlabelled: Ovarian borderline tumors are rare, their good prognosis depending on their stage at the time of diagnosis, and the presence of invasive implants. There is little information on tumor type identified intra-surgically, as well as on the most favorable treatment in borderline ovarian tumors., Aim: To determine the criteria of identification and presurgery and intra-surgery differentiation of the ovarian borderline tumors from the invasive carcinoma and benign ovarian tumors., Material and Methods: This study included 54 patients with TPMS (ovarian borderline tumors) surgically treated in the past 22 years (January 1988-December 2009) at the 4th Gynecological Clinic of the lasi "Gr. T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy. In this interval 1,107 ovarian tumors: 575 benign, 478 malignant, and 54 TPMS (4.87%) were recorded. The age of the patients with borderline tumors ranged between 20 and 78 years, mean age 46 years, and the histological types were: mucinous (27 cases), serous (18 cases), mixed (8 cases), and Brenner tumor (1 case)., Results: We have analyzed the distribution of these cases according to the time when surgical treatment was performed. The frequency of borderline ovarian tumors in our study is 4.87%, lower than in the literature. We believe that this low percentage in our study is due to missing the microscopic data in some macroscopic benign tumors., Conclusions: By this research we aimed at elaborating a therapeutic strategy for each case using with discernment the modern treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy), as well as new chemical drugs with the goal of obtaining better results and longer survival. There are no tumor markers which could predict the progression of a borderline ovarian tumor to invasive tumors, but the invasive course is only 0.7%.

Transitional cell tumors of the ovary comprise about 1% to 2% of all ovarian neoplasms. Most of these tumors are benign Brenner tumors and account for about 5% of benign surface epithelial-stromal tumors. Spicules of calcifications are found in the stroma of about 50% of benign Brenner tumors. Although diagnostic challenges might occur more frequently with either of the borderline or malignant Brenner tumors, this problem is not that common when diagnosing a benign Brenner tumor. This study reports a case of benign Brenner tumor with exuberant dystrophic calcifications that obscured most of the epithelium and posed a diagnostic challenge in differentiating it from the more common malignant counterparts such as serous carcinoma and specifically psammocarcinoma.

Background: Ovarian Brenner tumors are rare epithelial tumors that account for 1%-2% of all ovarian neoplasms. They can be subdivided into benign, borderline or proliferative, and malignant neoplasms. In the vast majority of cases, these lesions are benign. Tumors of borderline malignancy are less frequent and only about 1% of Brenner tumors are malignant. We present two cases of Brenner tumors with borderline malignancy which were treated in our Department together with a review of the literature., Cases: A 50-year-old, gravida 1, para 1, patient was admitted for abnormal vaginal bleeding. Clinical examination, abdominal ultrasound (US), and computed tomography (CT) revealed a cystic multilobulated tumor of the right ovary with solid elements measuring 20 x 19 x 15 cm in diameter. In the other case a 70-year-old, gravida 2, para 2, patient presented with severe urinary difficulties. Palpation revealed a mobile abdominopelvic tumor 10 x 15 in diameter. US and CT exhibited a cystic tumor with multiple solid elements and calcifications of the left ovary. Both patients underwent exploratory laparotomy. Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and total omentectomy were performed in both cases, while pelvic lymphadenectomy was decided only in the second case. Histologically, in both cases the diagnosis confirmed borderline Brenner tumor., Conclusion: Although Brenner tumors are rare and the majority of them are benign, the correct histological diagnosis at frozen section with identification of the small proportion of malignant tumors, allows the extent of the operation to be adapted if needed.

A 74-year-old woman with impaired glucose tolerance exhibited virilization. An examination of various hormone levels showed normal pituitary hormone and adrenal hormone levels. However, the patient's blood testosterone level was remarkably high and was suspected of having caused the virilization. An abdominal computed tomography revealed a multilocular cystoma in the left ovary with the features of a mature cystic teratoma. In addition, a chest computed tomography revealed the presence of a mass in the left breast that was subsequently diagnosed as breast cancer based on the results of a biopsy. After the simultaneous surgical resection of the ovarian and breast tumors, her blood testosterone level decreased. The mature cystic teratoma containing a Brenner tumor was considered to be responsible for the high testosterone level because of the presence of androgenic enzymes. This case is extremely rare, but the case was accurately diagnosed through a comprehensive analysis.

This case report describes the onset of hypertension and virilisation during pregnancy due to a Brenner tumour., (© 2010 The Authors. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology © 2010 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.)

Brenner tumor and struma ovarii, two uncommon ovarian tumors arising alone or together with dermoid cysts or adenomas, are both rare entities. Both tumors rarely become malignant and rarely metastasize. Few published reports describe coexisting Brenner tumor and malignant struma ovarii. Patients in whom these malignancies coexist only occasionally have peritoneal spreading, strumosis, or a history of thyrotoxicosis. The patient we describe, a 74-year-old woman, presented with a 2 months' history of lower abdominal pain and episodic intestinal subocclusion due to a complex pelvic mass. The mass consisted predominantly of a Brenner tumor associated with struma ovarii containing a single small island of thyroid tissue that had undergone malignant transformation into a well-differentiated papillary carcinoma and also normal thyroid tissue that had spread to the peritoneum. The patient underwent radical surgical treatment and after 7 years follow-up is disease free.

Background: Breast carcinomas are very well known to metastasize to the ovary. Hence, it is justified to think of an ovarian mass, in a known case of breast carcinoma, as a metastasis from the same., Case: A 70-year-old woman underwent ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) from a unilateral ovarian mass to confirm its nature. Cytosmears were highly cellular and showed cohesive clusters of small to intermediate-sized cells with bland nuclear chromatin and moderate cytoplasm in a background of mucinous material. A unique feature was the presence of microcystic spaces, around which the cells were arranged in an orderly fashion. Only occasional nuclear grooves were seen; however, they were helpful in suggesting the diagnosis of Brenner tumor. The subsequent histopathology specimen confirmed the diagnosis, with an excellent cytohistologic correlation., Conclusion: There is very limited experience with the FNAC findings of this tumor, and it is usually a diagnostic dilemma for the cytopathologist. This case highlights certain unique cytomorphologic features that may aid in diagnosis on cytology alone.

Background: Peritoneal effiusion is rare in malignant Brenner tumors and has been found in only 10% of patients., Case: A 77-year-old woman presented with malignant Brenner tumor and ascites. The cytology of the ascitic fluid revealed many activated mesothelial cells intermingled with squamous tumoral cells. These cells were either isolated or arranged in small clusters. They were often round or oval with irregular and moderately hyperchromatic nuclei., Conclusion: Presence of squamous cells in ascitic fluid associated with an ovarian tumor should raise the possible diagnosis of malignant Brenner tumor in addition to malignant transformed teratoma and secondary squamous carcinoma of the ovary.

Synchronous primary cancers of the endometrium and ovary occur in approximately 10% of all women with ovarian cancer and 5% of all women with endometrial cancer. The pathogenesis of synchronous endometrial and ovarian cancer is unclear. Synchronous tumors tend to be low grade and early stage. The prognosis is much better with survival approaching ten years than if the disease was classified as a single organ disease with metastasis. We report a case of unusual co-existence of endometroid adenocarcinoma of the uterus, serous borderline tumor of the ovary and Brenner tumor of the contralateral ovary in a 63-year-old woman. The patient recieved a surgical treatment and postoperative irradiation.

Background: A malignant Brenner tumor is a rare form of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer and is extremely uncommon in women > 65 years of age. We present a case of an invasive Brenner tumor of the ovary in a woman greater than age 70., Case: A 77-year-old woman presented with a rare, invasive Brenner tumor of the ovary. She was referred for evaluation of a complex pelvic mass and elevated serum CA-125. Treatment included complete surgical resection and staging procedure. Pathology revealed a malignant Brenner tumor. Immunohistochemical staining with cytokeratin 7 was positive, with cytokeratin 20 was negative, and was positive for uroplakin III and thrombomodulin., Conclusion: The histologic appearance of malignant Brenner tumor is similar to that of transitional cell cancer of the ovary and transitional epithelium of the urinary bladder. Immunohistochemical staining of malignant Brenner tumor often demonstrates positivity for uroplakin III, thrombomodulin and cytokeratin 7 and negativity to cytokeratin 20. The mainstay of treatment is surgical resection, but the exact regimen and benefit of adjuvant therapy remain unknown.

Ovarian tumors are classified based on the cell of origin into epithelial tumors, germ cell tumors and sex cord-stromal tumors. This pictorial essay illustrates the MR imaging features of the main ovarian tumors with pathologic correlation. These key features are helpful to suggest a specific diagnosis or narrow the differential diagnosis, in order to optimize the surgical approach.

The Brenner tumor is an uncommon ovarian tumor in pregnancy with only three previous cases in the English published reports. A 35-year-old woman delivered abdominally because of distress symptoms and a Brenner tumor was resected incidentally. Histological examination revealed a tumor composed of epithelial nests and areas of stromal luteinization. The patient was treated conservatively. Brenner tumor should be considered in the differential diagnosis of adnexal masses during pregnancy. These tumors are mainly benign and show typical luteinization associated with the hormonal milieu in pregnancy.

Transitional cell tumors of the ovary include 2 distinct clinicopathologic categories: Brenner tumors and transitional cell carcinomas (TCCs). Their molecular genetic alterations have not been fully investigated. We have performed a clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular genetic analysis of 19 transitional cell tumors including 13 Brenner tumors (5 benign, 7 borderline, and 1 malignant) and 6 TCCs. Immunoreactivity for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Ras, Cyclin D1, p16, Rb, and p53, as well as fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis for EGFR were assessed in all cases. Screening for mutations in K-Ras, B-Raf, CTNNB1, PIK3CA, and p53 genes was also performed. The mean patient age was 58 years (range, 32 to 85 y). Abdominal enlargement and pain were the usual complaints. Treatment was known in 14 patients: 10 had hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, which was accompanied by omentectomy in 7; and 4 had only unilateral or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, 1 with omentectomy. Four patients had brachytherapy. Six borderline Brenner tumors were stage IA and 1 stage IIA. The malignant Brenner tumor was stage IA. One TCC was stage IA, one IC, 2 IIIC and the stage was unknown in 2 cases. Follow-up information was available only in 5 of the nonbenign cases. Two patients who had borderline Brenner tumors were alive and well at 3 and 10.9 years. The patient who had a malignant Brenner tumor died of pulmonary thromboembolism shortly postoperatively, and 2 patients with TCCs died of tumor 1.8 and 13 years, postoperatively. Brenner tumors and TCCs differed mainly in the expression of EGFR, p16, and p53. Benign Brenner tumors showed a low immunoexpression for all markers. Borderline Brenner tumors failed to immunoreact for p16, Rb, and p53; and showed weak immunostaining for Cyclin D1, moderate for Ras, and strong for EGFR. The malignant Brenner tumor was also negative for p16, Rb, and p53, and strongly positive for Cyclin D1, Ras, and EGFR. In contrast, TCCs had p53 mutations with p53 and p16 protein overexpression and showed a negative immunoreaction for EGFR, Cyclin D1, and Ras. Our results suggest that Brenner tumors and TCCs follow different tumorigenic pathways, whereas borderline and malignant Brenner tumors are low-grade neoplasms with activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway through EGFR, TCCs are high-grade tumors that have p53 mutations and p16 and p53 protein overexpression.

Background: Primary ovarian leiomyosarcoma (POL) is rare. To the best of our knowledge, POL associated with a Brenner tumor has not been previously documented., Case: A case of POL associated with a Brenner tumor is reported. Although the poorly differentiated component of the tumor was negative for SMA, the presence of spindle cells in the higher differentiated component with fascicle arrangement and immunoreactivity for SMA and strong staining of a poorly differentiated component for desmin and vimentin established the diagnosis., Conclusion: This case indicates that since malignant tumor cells may lose some antigen markers, thorough sampling and immunohistochemistry are necessary. EMA-immunopositivity only could not preclude the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma.

Invasive lobular carcinoma of breast is well known to be able to metastasise to unusual places, including the gastrointestinal and gynaecological tracts. However, it is very unusual for breast cancer to present in an ovarian Brenner tumour. This case highlights the diagnostic difficulties of patients presenting with unilateral ovarian masses, and the merits of thorough histological assessment of the entire pathological specimen despite the presence of one obvious pathological diagnosis.

Context: The origin of and relationship between ovarian mucinous and transitional cell (Brenner) neoplasms are enigmatic. The reported association ranges from 1% to 16%, and whether there is an association with Walthard cell nests is unknown., Objective: To clarify the histologic relationship between mucinous and Brenner tumors., Design: A total of 40 mucinous cystadenomas, 67 Brenner tumors, and 13 combined tumors were studied. Peritoneal surfaces were examined for Walthard nests in 83 patients compared with 272 controls., Results: A total of 25% of tumors with a mucinous component contained a Brenner component, and 16% of tumors with a Brenner component contained a mucinous component. Most calcifications were spiculated (nonpsammomatous). In 6 combined tumors, the relative volume of the 2 components was less than 1:3000 (transitional-mucinous). Walthard nests were found in 50% of patients with Brenner tumors and 59% of patients with mucinous tumors. This was significantly higher than the 28% found in controls (P = .002 and P < .001, respectively). The number of fallopian tube blocks examined was correlated with the likelihood of finding Walthard nests, and accordingly, sampling accounted for 39% of the increase with Brenner tumors but strengthened the association with mucinous tumors., Conclusions: The strong association of mucinous and transitional cell components, similar type of calcification, complementary size distributions, and frequent identification of a transitional component in the face of an exceedingly small estimated proportion of that component suggest that this association has been underestimated. The association of Brenner tumors with Walthard nests, although significant, appears weak and not strongly supportive of a histogenetic relationship. The stronger association of Walthard nests with mucinous tumors remains unexplained.

Brenner tumors account for only 1 to 2% of ovarian tumors. Proliferating Brenner tumors are characterized by an epithelial proliferation, resembling superficial well-differentiated urothelial carcinomas. A single 29-year-old patient was operated for an ovarian tumor. On gross examination, the tumor, which originated in the left ovary, was cystic multilocular and presented polyoid excrescences. Definitive histological exam showed a papillary proliferation lined by transitional cells without stroma infiltration. Mucinous cells lined some cavities. The diagnosis of proliferating Brenner tumor was made. Clinical and pathological characteristics of this rare entity will be discussed.