RESUMO
To study the relative frequency and histological pattern of ovarian tumours in various age groups. The study was carried out in the Histopathology department, AFIP Rawalpindi from Jan 2002 to Jun 2003 One hundred and ninety four specimens of ovarian tumours were received in Histopathology department, AFIP Rawalpindi. All the surgical specimens were fixed in 10% formalin and routinely processed. The sections were then cut and stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin. The histological typing of ovarian tumours was done according to WHO classification of 2003. The main bulk comprised surface epithelial tumours [73%]. Among them, 107 [75.33%] were benign neoplasms and 35 [24.09%] were malignant. There were 40 [21%] germ cell tumours, 10 [5%] sex cord stromal tumours and 2 [1%] metastatic tumours. The benign category comprised 88 cases of serous cystadenoma, 34 cases of mature cystic teratomas and 19 mucinous cystadenomas. In the malignant group, there were 15 serous cystadenocarcinomas, 10 endometrioid carcinomas, 7 mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, 2 yolk sac tumours and 2 cases of granulosa cell tumour. Benign tumours were mostly diagnosed in 3rd and 4th decades of life, whereas malignant tumours were seen after 40 years, with exception of malignant germ cell tumours, which were mostly found in younger age groups. There were minor differences from local studies. The overall frequency of various tumour groups was very similar to that in the west with some difference in tumour types