How is microscopy of serous ovarian tumors?

➢ The cystic spaces usually are filled with a clear serous fluid. Protruding into the cystic cavities are papillary projections, which are more prominent in malignant tumors ➢ On histologic examination, benign tumors contain a single layer of columnar epithelial cells that line the cyst or cysts. ➢ The cells often are ciliated. ➢ Psammoma bodies are common in the tips of papillae. ➢ In high-grade carcinoma the cells are markedly atypical, the papillary formations are usually complex and multilayered, and by definition nests or sheets of malignant cells invade the ovarian stroma.