Types

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Types of Ovarian Cancers

Ovarian cancers are now known to be several distinct diseases, which are named after the type of cell they come from: epithelial, germ cell, and stromal.  These are the three main cell types that make up the ovary.  Each cell type can develop into a different type of tumor, and each type differs in how it spreads, how it’s treated and its prognosis.

  • Epithelial ovarian cancer, which arise from the surface of the ovary (the epithelium), is the most common ovarian cancer. Fallopian Tube Cancer and Primary Peritoneal Cancer are also included within this designation.
  • Germ Cell ovarian cancer arises from the reproductive cells of the ovaries, and is rare.
  • Stromal cell ovarian cancer, which arises from connective tissue cells, is very rare.
  • Small cell carcinoma (SCCO) of the ovary is an extremely rare ovarian cancer and it is not certain whether the cells in SCCO are from ovarian epithelial cells, sex-cord stromal cells or germ cells.

Not all ovarian tumors are cancer. Some ovarian tumors may be abnormal but not necessarily cancerous.