Ovarian cystadenofibroma: a consideration of the role of estrogen in its pathogenesis.

A review of 35 cystadenofibromas of the ovary has revealed certain morphological features which implicate the role of estrogenic hormones in the pathogenesis of these neoplasms. The epithelium was tubal in type and at the ultrastructural level was found to be comparable with that of the normal Fallopian tube during estrogenic stimulation. The appearance of the stromal fibroblasts in the connective tissue component of the tumor was also consistent with an estrogenic influence. It is suggested that the source of estrogen responsible for both the epithelial differentiation and the fibrous proliferation may be found in functional steroidogenic cells present in the stroma of the neoplasm.