Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Jan 1.
Published in final edited form as: Annu Rev Pathol. 2009;4:287–313. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pathol.4.110807.092246

Figure 6. Schematic illustration of Type I and Type II ovarian serous carcinoma pathogenesis.

Figure 6

Development of ovarian high-grade and low-grade serous carcinomas involves two distinct pathways. Low-grade (Type I) carcinomas arise from serous borderline tumors (SBTs), which in turn develop from serous cystadenomas. This stepwise tumor progression in the low-grade pathway contrasts with the rapid progression pathway of high-grade (Type II) carcinomas, for which precursor lesions are not well recognized. High-grade carcinomas may arise from ovarian surface inclusions, peritoneal mesothelium or the distal portion (fimbriae) of the fallopian tube. These carcinomas disseminate to pelvic and peritoneal organs early in their progression.