title: Ovarian thecoma: clinicopathological analysis of 50 cases.
abstract: The clinicopathological findings of 50 thecoma cases were studied to establish the most useful diagnostic criteria helpful in characterizing this ovarian stromal tumor. Patient age ranged from 21 to 77 years (median, 57.5 years). In this study, thecoma appears to be associated with endometrial diseases (15 patients) as an incidental finding in a gynecologic routine examination (14 patients) and in a cesarean delivery (1 patient). Arteries, veins, lymphatics, and mast cells are normally present in the ovarian medulla and are absent in the cortical area. The 50 thecomas studied showed proliferation of stromal cells and presence of arteries, lymphatics, and mast cells. Thecoma tumoral growth appeared to cause atrophy or compression of the cortical area. These findings are significant for diagnosis; thus, thecoma is proposed as a tumor originating in the ovarian medulla. Fibroma and thecoma seem to be different neoplasms and should be considered distinct, separate entities because they have different origin, morphology, and potential functionality.
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, 2000 Argentina. alnocito@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ana Lia
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Nocito
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarancone
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bacchi
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tellez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005350:Fibroma / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000473:pathology; D013798:Thecoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor