Clear cell ovarian cancer is a type of epithelial cancer that forms in the surface lining of one of the ovaries. It can be malignant or benign, but most clear cell tumors are found to be malignant. Symptoms usually don’t appear until the cancerous cells have spread to other parts of the body. Early diagnosis is essential for treatment and prognosis.
Clear cell ovarian cancer, also known as clear cell carcinoma, is a type of epithelial cancer. This type of cancer forms in the surface lining of one of the ovaries. As the cancer progresses, the tumors rupture and release cancerous tissue into the abdomen, liver, lymph nodes, or other surrounding organs. Clear cell carcinomas can be malignant or benign, but most clear cell tumors are found to be malignant.
About 90% of ovarian cancer is caused by one of the epithelial cell carcinomas, which includes serous tumors, mucinous tumors, transient tumors, endometrial tumors, and clear cell tumors. Clear cell ovarian cancer accounts for less than 10% of epithelial cell carcinomas, but clear cell cancers often develop together with endometrial cancers. The cause of clear cell ovarian cancer is not known, but women between the ages of 40 and 80 are more likely to develop these types of cancers. Women whose family members have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer may be at increased risk of developing the disease due to a genetic predisposition.
Symptoms of clear cell ovarian cancer usually don’t appear until the cancerous cells have spread to other parts of the body or until the tumor has grown large enough to be felt or seen from the abdomen. Nausea, gas, bloating, and pelvic pain sometimes occur. Most women are not diagnosed with the condition until the disease has progressed to stage II cancer.
Early diagnosis of cellular ovarian cancer is essential for the person’s treatment and prognosis. If a woman has a family history of ovarian cancer, she can be tested at any age for the BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 genes, which have been linked to the development of ovarian cancer. Regular pelvic exams and Pap smears can detect the development of a mass, but there are a small number of cases of cancers being detected during routine physical exams.
If ovarian cancer is suspected, a doctor will order a pelvic ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the location and size of the tumor. Blood and serum tests will also be done. Your doctor will usually need to perform a surgical procedure to examine your ovaries and tumors, and will take a biopsy of the mass to see if the tissue is benign or malignant. If a diagnosis is confirmed, removal or both ovarian and other cancerous tumors will be completed. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy may also be recommended.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN