Description

Ovarian epithelial tumours of borderline malignancy are a peculiar group of increasingly diverse neoplasms which continue to cause problems to the diagnostic pathologist. Sub-typing these lesions is not as straight-forward as it is for their invasive counterparts, but the major problems lie in distinguishing clearly the borderline lesions form the truely invasive neoplasms, particularly in mucinous tumours, and in determining the significance of multifocal disease in serous tumours. The conceptual and practical problems associated with borderline tumours are reflected in the recent debates on the true nature of these neoplasms which include calls for changes in terminology. To add to these confusing issues are the recognition of newer entities which are still encompassed in the broad group of borderline neoplasms-the micro invasive lesions in serous tumours and the “non-invasive” foci in mucinous tumours. The result is intensified uncertainty not only in classification of these tumours, but also in assessing the associated prognoses. Molecular pathology and newer technology, however, have begun to shed light on this complex set of neoplasms.