Fast Five Quiz: Ovarian Cancer Overview

Medscape

13-06-2025

Ovarian cancer poses a significant threat to women's health, often developing quietly and without early symptoms. It is commonly discovered after progression. This late detection, along with resistance to treatment and frequent relapse, contributes to poor outcomes. Although medical and surgical interventions have evolved, survival rates remain low. These challenges highlight the critical importance of early detection methods, precise diagnostic technologies, and individualized care coordinated across medical specialties.
How much do you know about ovarian cancer? Test your knowledge with this quick quiz.
High-grade serous carcinoma is by far the most prevalent, representing approximately 70%-80% of epithelial ovarian cancer cases. In contrast, the low-grade form of serous carcinoma is much less common (< 5%). Endometrioid and clear cell subtypes are each responsible for about 10% of cases and have known associations with endometriosis. Mucinous carcinomas are uncommon, comprising a small fraction (around 3%) of epithelial ovarian cancers.
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According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, for patients with inherited mutations linked to a higher chance of developing ovarian cancer (eg, alterations in BRCA1, BRCA2, RAD51C, RAD51D, BRIP1, PALB2 ), the most effective preventive surgical procedure is the bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (which is the removal of both fallopian tubes and ovaries). This intervention has been proven to greatly reduce ovarian cancer risk and enhance long-term survival among these high-risk groups. However, when performed in premenopausal women, it induces menopause.
Removing one ovary (unilateral oophorectomy) or the uterus (total hysterectomy) does not offer adequate protection against ovarian cancer. Procedures like cervical conization are unrelated to ovarian cancer and are used to manage cervical abnormalities.
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HRT is typically recommended for women who undergo bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy before reaching the natural age of menopause and have not had breast cancer. This type of surgery causes a sudden and early drop in estrogen levels, which can result in bothersome symptoms and increase the risk for long-term health issues such as bone loss or cardiovascular problems. HRT helps ease these effects and maintain health until the typical menopausal age.
In contrast, women older than age 50 years are often already in or near menopause, and HRT is not routinely needed unless specific symptoms arise. Patients who have a history of breast cancer must be assessed on a case-by-case basis because HRT might not be safe. Women with a uterus should be offered combined HRT, whereas women without a uterus should be offered estrogen-only HRT. Additionally, women who have not had their ovaries removed do not experience the abrupt hormonal shift that warrants preventive HRT.
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Individuals who carry a BRCA1 mutation face a significantly elevated risk of developing ovarian cancer, often at a younger age than those with other hereditary mutations. If a woman with a BRCA1 mutation decides not to undergo surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes, monitoring for early signs of cancer should begin after age 35 years. This timing aligns with evidence suggesting that BRCA1 -related ovarian cancers tend to occur earlier than those linked to BRCA2 or other genetic variants.
Initiating surveillance at age 30 years is generally premature and not part of standard recommendations. For BRCA2 carriers, screening is usually deferred until after age 40 years, whereas those with alterations in genes like RAD51C, RAD51D, BRIP1 , or PALB2 typically begin surveillance after age 45 years. Individuals with Lynch syndrome-related mutations (eg, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 ) are also advised to start at age 35 years if surgery is postponed.
Learn more about breast cancer risk factors.
Although mucinous tumors can arise directly from the ovary, many are actually secondary cancers that have spread from other organs, most notably the gastrointestinal system, including the colon and appendix. Distinguishing between primary and metastatic mucinous tumors is crucial for proper diagnosis and management.
High-grade serous cancers more commonly begin in the epithelium of the fallopian tubes rather than the ovaries. On the other hand, low-grade serous carcinomas are thought to originate in the ovary and are typically diagnosed in younger females, with outcomes generally more favorable than their high-grade counterparts. Germ cell tumors and sex cord-stromal tumors are far more frequent in adolescents and young adults, with most cases occurring before age 30 years and not in women older than 45.
Learn more about endometrioid carcinoma.