The simple idea (no memorising)
Not every ovarian lump is a tumour, and not every tumour is cancer. First, separate:
- Functional cysts — normal cycle by‑products (a follicle or corpus luteum that filled with fluid). Common and usually resolve on their own.
- True tumours — new growths, which sort into three families:
| Family | Comes from | Age clue |
|---|---|---|
| Epithelial | surface‑type cells | older women (the important cancers) |
| Germ‑cell | egg cells | young women and teens |
| Sex‑cord stromal | hormone‑making cells | any age; may make hormones |
The friendly common one: the dermoid
A mature cystic teratoma ("dermoid cyst") is a common benign germ‑cell tumour, often in young women. Because it grows from egg cells, it can contain surprising bits of ordinary tissue — hair, skin, even teeth. Its main risk is twisting (torsion), which causes sudden pain.
Assessing a lump
Doctors weigh age, menopausal status, symptoms, ultrasound appearance, and — sometimes — a blood marker (CA‑125). But an important caution:
An important gap
Unlike the cervix, there is no reliable screening test to catch ovarian cancer early in average‑risk women — CA‑125 + ultrasound screening hasn't been shown to save lives. This is a big reason ovarian cancer is often found late (next concept).
Why it matters
Reassuring a young woman about a likely‑benign dermoid, or carefully working up an older woman's complex cyst, both start from the same skill: reading age + appearance + markers together.
Quick check ✅
- What are the three families of true ovarian tumours, and which age does each favour?
- Why is CA‑125 not a good stand‑alone test for ovarian cancer?
Remember this 🌟
Where we're going next → Finally, the cancer itself — why it hides, and the clues that reveal it. Concept 41.