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Abstract

 
Background: Epithelial ovarian tumors are among the most lethal gynecologic malignancies, often presenting at an advanced stage due to vague symptoms and lack of early detection strategies. These tumors account for the majority of ovarian cancer cases worldwide and pose a significant burden in low-resource settings. Identifying key risk factors in local populations is essential for improving diagnostic timing, shaping preventive strategies, and guiding targeted patient counseling and care.
Objective: To determine the frequency of epithelial ovarian tumors and assess the associated risk factors among patients presenting with ovarian tumors at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, JPMC, Karachi, from February 19, 2022, to August 18, 2022. A total of 133 women aged 18–40 years presenting with ovarian tumors were enrolled through consecutive non-probability sampling. Informed consent was obtained. Demographic and clinical histories were recorded, including factors such as age, BMI, parity, reproductive history, hormone therapy use, and family history of malignancy. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and chi-square tests were applied to assess associations, with p < 0.05 considered significant.
Results: The mean age was 43.02 ± 12.83 years. Epithelial ovarian tumors were observed in 106 (79.7%) participants. Risk factor distribution included: age ≥50 years in 46 (34.6%), BMI ≥30 in 30 (22.6%), nulliparity in 46 (34.6%), early menarche (<12 years) in 59 (44.4%), late menopause (>50 years) in 37 (27.8%), family or personal history of breast cancer in 4 (3.0%), ovarian cancer in 7 (5.3%), colon cancer in 2 (1.5%), hormone replacement therapy use in 8 (6.0%), and clomiphene use in 37 (27.8%).
Conclusion: Epithelial ovarian tumors are highly prevalent among women with ovarian masses. Early menarche, advancing age, and nulliparity emerged as the most frequent risk factors. These findings emphasize the need for awareness, early screening, and further studies to explore risk mitigation in high-risk groups.
Background: Epithelial ovarian tumors are among the most lethal gynecologic malignancies, often presenting at an advanced stage due to vague symptoms and lack of early detection strategies. These tumors account for the majority of ovarian cancer cases worldwide and pose a significant burden in low-resource settings. Identifying key risk factors in local populations is essential for improving diagnostic timing, shaping preventive strategies, and guiding targeted patient counseling and care.
Objective: To determine the frequency of epithelial ovarian tumors and assess the associated risk factors among patients presenting with ovarian tumors at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, JPMC, Karachi, from February 19, 2022, to August 18, 2022. A total of 133 women aged 18–40 years presenting with ovarian tumors were enrolled through consecutive non-probability sampling. Informed consent was obtained. Demographic and clinical histories were recorded, including factors such as age, BMI, parity, reproductive history, hormone therapy use, and family history of malignancy. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and chi-square tests were applied to assess associations, with p < 0.05 considered significant.
Results: The mean age was 43.02 ± 12.83 years. Epithelial ovarian tumors were observed in 106 (79.7%) participants. Risk factor distribution included: age ≥50 years in 46 (34.6%), BMI ≥30 in 30 (22.6%), nulliparity in 46 (34.6%), early menarche (<12 years) in 59 (44.4%), late menopause (>50 years) in 37 (27.8%), family or personal history of breast cancer in 4 (3.0%), ovarian cancer in 7 (5.3%), colon cancer in 2 (1.5%), hormone replacement therapy use in 8 (6.0%), and clomiphene use in 37 (27.8%).
Conclusion: Epithelial ovarian tumors are highly prevalent among women with ovarian masses. Early menarche, advancing age, and nulliparity emerged as the most frequent risk factors. These findings emphasize the need for awareness, early screening, and further studies to explore risk mitigation in high-risk groups.