What Is A Giant Mucinous Cystadenoma Of The Ovary?

In general, giant mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary does not have any symptoms except for increased abdominal girth. In many cases, it is mistaken for pregnancy.

Giant mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary is a benign tumor in most cases, which occurs mainly in adult and middle-aged women. It is very rare for it to appear in young girls or teenage girls.

Between 15% and 25% of ovarian tumors correspond to a giant mucinous cystadenoma. Its main feature is the large size it can reach. This is why, they say that it is giant.

It is estimated that about 85% of these tumors are benign. 6% are considered borderline, or with some malignant potential. And 9% are invasive tumors. Other classifications estimate that 75% are benign and the remaining 25% are malignant.

Usually, a benign-type giant mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary develops between the ages of 20 and 50. Malignant tumors often appear after 50 years. Often they are confused with pregnancy.

What is giant mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary?

Giant mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary is defined as a neoplastic lesion. In other words, like an indiscriminate cell proliferation of a tissue that invades adjacent tissues. In this case, it is derived from the epithelial cells of the ovary.

In addition, it comes from a metaplasia or transformation of the epithelium of the cells of the layer which covers the ovary. In other words, the mesothelium of the ovary. Due to the characteristics of these cells, they have the potential to grow to a large size.

Some giant mucinous cystadenomas contain intestinal-like epithelial tissue. The latter have a greater potential for malignancy, and can eventually lead to ovarian cancer. Currently, 1 in 70 women develop this type of cancer in their lifetime.

Main characteristics

Giant mucinous cystadenoma is characterized by the presence of several glandules and cysts, with a diameter of between 10 and 15 cm. These are covered by epithelial cells with an abundant amount of mucin. This substance is the main component of mucous and salivary secretions.

The most important characteristic of this type of tumor is its ability to grow to a large size. In 1982, there was a giant mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary that weighed 87.7 kilograms. It is the most impressive in terms of size of the past 50 years. A mucinous cystadenoma is cataloged as giant when it exceeds 12 kilograms.

This type of ovarian tumor has a circular shape, blue in color and smooth in texture. It sometimes has a translucent appearance and has internal partitions. These consist of a viscous and transparent liquid.

It should be noted that the ovaries never lose the possibility of generating tumors. Therefore, they can appear at any age in a woman’s life. One of the most common neoplasms in women is ovarian tumors. And one of the most dangerous, because they are not noticeable at an early stage.

Manifestations of giant mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary

The most common clinical manifestation is an increase in abdominal circumference. It is accompanied by an intra-abdominal mass that is palpable to the touch. It is rare for there to be pain or other symptoms, even during the physical examination.

In some cases, the excessive growth of the tumor leads to twisting, hemorrhage, or rupture. This gives rise to symptoms of abdominal distension, with oppressive pain in the hypogastrium  and other gastrointestinal and urinary symptoms.

To confirm the diagnosis and establish the malignancy or benignity of the tumor, it is necessary to perform imaging tests. Usually, an ultrasound is done as well as a stomach tomography. Ultrasound is generally very reliable in this regard.

If a malignant cyst is suspected but cannot be examined with imaging tests, an exploratory laparotomy should be performed. In case the tumor is symptomatic, it is necessary to evaluate it as soon as possible.

Other data to know …

Clinical information indicates that  the highest incidence of ovarian tumors occurs between 35 and 65 years of age. This stage corresponds to the climacteric, a phase during which multiple changes occur in reproductive function.

Although some tumors are hormonally active,  the vast majority generate only mild symptoms, until they reach a large size. Mild forms, in particular, tend to be asymptomatic and usually arise as an accidental discovery.

The best treatment for giant mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary  in an older woman is bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (extirpation of the ovary and its fallopian tube) followed by hysterectomy. In young women, the goal is to always preserve fertility. The prognosis is generally positive after surgery.