Ovarian Cancer Embryology
In the human embryo, the ovary appears as a genital ridge about 1 month after fertilization. The primitive mesoderm gives rise to the mesothelial covering of the ovary and of the peritoneum, the so-called germinal epithelium from which epithelial ovarian cancers and primary peritoneal cancers are thought to arise. These cells arise along the medial and ventral borders of the mesonephros from which the mesenchymal tissues of the ovary are derived. The mesenchymal tissues give rise to the ovarian stroma. The germ cells originate from the primitive streak and migrate from the yolk sac endoderm toward the developing ovary. The primitive ovary is histologically unique and distinguishable from the primitive testis by 6 weeks after fertilization. The ovarian cortex develops by 8 to 9 weeks.
- Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
- Introduction
- Etiology and Epidemiology
- Prevention
- Genetic Risk for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
- Embryology
- Biology and Prognosis of Ovarian Neoplasms
- Classification and Pathology
- Patterns of Spread
- Clinical Features
- Diagnosis
- Screening
- Staging of Ovarian Cancer
- Treatment of Early Stage Ovarian Cancer
- Treatment of Advanced Stage Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
- Assessment of Response in Patients who are Clinically free of Disease
- Survival of Patients with Advanced Ovarian Cancer
- Nonepithelial Ovarian Cancer
Revision date: July 6, 2011
Last revised: by Janet A. Staessen, MD, PhD