What are borderline ovarian tumours? Around 15 out of 100 ovarian tumours (15%) are borderline tumours. They are also described as atypical proliferative tumours and used to be called tumours of low malignant potential. They are different to ovarian cancer because they don't grow into the supportive tissue of the ovary (the stroma). They tend to grow slowly and in a more controlled way than cancer cells. Borderline tumours usually affect women aged between 20 and 40. They are usually diagnosed at an early stage, when the abnormal cells are still within the ovary. Occasionally some abnormal cells break away from the tumour and settle elsewhere in the body, usually the abdomen. Very rarely, these cells start to grow into the underlying tissue. The main treatment for borderline tumours is surgery. Most women are cured and have no further problems. There is a small risk of the tumour coming back. Very rarely, the borderline tumour cells change into cancer cells. Symptoms Small borderline tumours don't usually cause symptoms. Doctors might find the tumour while you're having tests for something else. Larger or more advanced borderline tumours might cause symptoms. Symptoms can include: pain or a feeling of pressure in the tummy area (pelvis or abdomen) a swollen abdomen pain during or after sex vaginal bleeding not related to your period Tests If you have symptoms, your doctor will examine you and can refer you to the hospital for a scan. Pelvic examination Your doctor is likely to press gently on the outside of your tummy (abdomen) while you are lying down, to feel for any lumps, or tender areas. Your doctor might also examine you internally. This is to see if your womb and ovaries feel normal. Your doctor will ask you to lie on your back with your feet drawn up and your knees apart. They will then put one or two gloved fingers into your vagina at the same time as pressing down on your abdomen with the other hand. If any part of your reproductive system is swollen, or if a lump of any kind is there, your doctor may be able to feel it. Scans You might need to have an ultrasound scan. An ultrasound uses sound waves to build up a picture of a part of the body. You might have an abdominal ultrasound or a transvaginal ultrasound, or both. Read about having an ultrasound scan If you have a lump (mass) on your ovary, you will need an operation to find out what it is. Your surgeon might remove part or all of your ovary. A specialist carefully looks at this under a microscope. Stages Staging shows the size of the tumour and whether it has spread. Doctors use the same staging system for borderline tumours as for ovarian cancer. There are 4 stages, from 1 to 4: stage 1 is the earliest stage where the borderline tumour is within the ovary stage 2 generally means the abnormal cells have spread within the pelvis, for example to the womb, fallopian tubes, bladder or the back passage (rectum) stage 3 means the cells have spread outside the pelvis into the abdominal cavity stage 4 is the most advanced. It means the cells have spread to another part of the body, such as the lungs Best Fertility Care Centre, Advanced Fertility Care Centre, Ashwini Multispeciality Hospital Moondrumavadi Madurai -07 .
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