Typing of ovarian carcinomas: an update

Classification of ovarian carcinomas into different subtypes is no longer only an exercise in pattern recognition that lacks clinical and biological significance. Biologically validated diagnostic criteria now separate ovarian carcinomas into specific disease types that have clinical relevance: high-grade serous carcinoma, low-grade serous carcinoma, endometrioid carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma and primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma. This review summarizes the clinical and pathologic features of these types of ovarian carcinoma and provides information about refined diagnostic criteria and the use of ancillary diagnostic techniques for diagnosis.