Tahira Khalid, Fehmida Shaheen

Prof. Fehimda Shaheen, Professor and Head of Obetetrics and Gynaecology Unit II, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi.

Abstract

Objective: To analyze records of patients with ovarian pathologies and obtain information on factors as order of frequency of malignancy , clinical presentation ,stage of disease,histological subtype and other demographic features.
Study Design and Setting: This was a descriptive observational study conducted at Obstetric and Gynaecology unit II, Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi for a 2year period from 1st January 2010 - 31st December 2011.
Methodology: All cases of ovarian lesions seen in the specified time period were collected from unit’s record register and relevant data was analyzed.
Results: A total of 38 cases of ovarian lesions were reported 5(13%) were non neoplastic 33(86%) were neoplastic. Out of the latter 25 cases(75.7%) were malignant and 8(27%) were be-nign.Commonest histological type was epithelial ovarian cancer (80%),most frequent subtype was serous cystdenocarcinoma 11(55%), while 22 (88%) malignant cases were seen with ad-vanced stage disease. Mass abdomen and dull abdomenal pain was most frequent clinical presentation in 14(42%).Majority of the patients were in 40-50 year age group(36%).mean age of onset was 40 years. 56% of patients were illiterate,68% belonged to low income group,36% of pa-tients were menopausal ,52% were para 3 or more and 94% of parous patients had breast fed their babies, only 4% ever used OCPs and 2(8%) patients gave positive family history of ovarian and breast cancer.
Conclusion: Epithelial ovarian cancers were the commonest ovarian malignancies. Younger age at onset of disease, more advanced stages at presentation, high parity and breast feeding are unusual features as compared to the western studies. An extensive population based study is required to develop strategies for early detection and management of ovarian cancers in Pakistan.
Key words: Ovarian epithelial malignancies. Clinicopathalogical features.