Proliferating Brenner tumors

Abstract

The great majority of Brenner tumors are benign, but a few are frankly malignant. The rare proliferating Brenner tumor is a third variant intermediate between the benign and malignant forms. Characteristic areas of this tumor show an unusual degree of epithelial proliferation and morphologically resemble low‐grade (papillary) transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. The papillary tumor tends to grow within cystic spaces, and the epithelial component does not invade the tumor stroma. In our 3 cases, adjacent areas of typical Brenner tumor were observed. The tumors were all confined to the ovary, and none has recurred or metastasized. In one case, the patient has been free of tumor for 8 years. These tumors give additional support to the concept that Brenner tumors are composed of epithelium of urinary tract (urothelial) type.

Predominant Brenner Tumor Combined with Struma Ovarii Containing a Papillary Microcarcinoma Associated with Benign Peritoneal Strumosis: Report of a Case and Histologic Features

“…Brenner tumor and struma differ in origin. Whereas Brenner tumor arises from ovarian surface epithelium (mesothelium) through urothelial metaplasia [8][9][10], struma ovari arises from germ cell proliferation and is considered a teratoma containing normal thyroid tissue as the only or the predominant (>50%) element [8,11]. Although our case provides no further information on how these two rare tumors developcollision, metaplasia, teratoma origin, and differentiation in two directions [12]-a rarely reported histologic finding was the thyroglobulin immunostaining in the transitional epithelium (Fig.…”

Imaging in gynecological disease (7): clinical and ultrasound features of Brenner tumors of the ovary

“…Brenner tumors are usually unilateral, bilateral lesions being found in only 5–14% of cases. There is controversy as to whether bilateral lesions are more common in the malignant subtype than in the benign subtype, though most malignant ones are unilateral.…”

Brenner tumours—a clinicopathological study of benign, borderline and malignant types

“…The concept of origin from pluripotential surface epithelium of the ovary is supported by the finding of urinary tract-like epithelial tumours found in the proliferating Brenner tumour (Miles and Norris, 1972). This gives additional support to the concept that Brenner tumours are composed of urothelial-type epithelium (Sternberg, 1963;Erlich and Roch, 1971;Roth and Sternberg, 1971;Roth, 1974) or squamous metaplastic epithelium (Genadry et al, 1979).…”