Proliferative Brenner tumor of the ovary. clinicopathological study of two cases and review of the literature

Abstract

Background: Ovarian Brenner tumors are rare epithelial tumors that account for 1%-2% of all ovarian neoplasms. They can be subdivided into benign, borderline or proliferative, and malignant neoplasms. In the vast majority of cases, these lesions are benign. Tumors of borderline malignancy are less frequent and only about 1% of Brenner tumors are malignant. We present two cases of Brenner tumors with borderline malignancy which were treated in our Department together with a review of the literature.

Cases: A 50-year-old, gravida 1, para 1, patient was admitted for abnormal vaginal bleeding. Clinical examination, abdominal ultrasound (US), and computed tomography (CT) revealed a cystic multilobulated tumor of the right ovary with solid elements measuring 20 x 19 x 15 cm in diameter. In the other case a 70-year-old, gravida 2, para 2, patient presented with severe urinary difficulties. Palpation revealed a mobile abdominopelvic tumor 10 x 15 in diameter. US and CT exhibited a cystic tumor with multiple solid elements and calcifications of the left ovary. Both patients underwent exploratory laparotomy. Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and total omentectomy were performed in both cases, while pelvic lymphadenectomy was decided only in the second case. Histologically, in both cases the diagnosis confirmed borderline Brenner tumor.

Conclusion: Although Brenner tumors are rare and the majority of them are benign, the correct histological diagnosis at frozen section with identification of the small proportion of malignant tumors, allows the extent of the operation to be adapted if needed.