Al-Agha Osama M, Blake Gilks C
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Surg Pathol Clin. 2011 Mar;4(1):375-96. doi: 10.1016/j.path.2010.12.004. Epub 2011 Feb 22.
The focus of this review is high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC); for the purposes of this review, the term "pelvic SC" is used for HGSC that could be considered, based on historical definitions, to have arisen from ovary, fallopian tube, or peritoneum. These assignments of primary site are arbitrary and there is evidence that the distal fallopian tube is the site of origin of many pelvic HGSCs. The diagnosis of HGSC can be made readily based on routine histomorphologic examination in most cases; however, a variety of neoplasms can resemble HGSC. Thus, we review the key features of pelvic SC, current concepts of its pathogenesis, histopathological diagnostic criteria, discuss differential diagnosis, and review diagnostic ancillary studies that can be used in practice.
