BACKGROUND

Globally, ovarian cancer is the seventh neoplasm and the eight oncologic cause of death in women, responsible of 150,000 deaths per year, with a 5 year survival under the 45%, mainly represented by high-grade serous carcinomas. Findings such as serous intraepithelial carcinomas and genetic predisposition have become a constant for the vast majority of cases.

OBJECTIVE

To summarize and review the most recent advances about the carcinogenesis of the ovarian serous tumors, its implications on the pathological diagnosis and the consequences of these new concepts for the clinical and surgical therapies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a systematic search to select all kinds of languages articles, using the keywords "serous ovarian neoplasms" AND "carcinogenesis" AND "low-grade serous carcinoma" OR "high-grade serous carcinoma". Two investigators independently extracted characteristics and results to select the articles. Two pathologists independently did the assessment of the preselected articles selecting the most appropriate ones, based on their utility for this review.

RESULTS

66 articles were selected and included in the bibliography for this review.

CONCLUSIONS

A better understanding of the physiopathology and many other new findings that have been done during the last decade are essential for the treatment of this patients, for the creation and application of strategies for primary prevention and screening for the risk, and the medical and surgical interventions, mainly directed to patients with mutations on BRCA, family history of breast, ovarian or peritoneal cancer, among other conditions. A multidisciplinary and updated approach will affect significantly the long-term survival.

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