Brenner tumor

Definition: Brenner tumours are uncommon tumours that are part of the surface epithelial-stromal tumour group of ovarian neoplasms. The majority of these tumours are benign. However, they can be malignant.

Brenner tumor contains nests of urothelial type cells with distinct outlines, nuclei with longitudinal grooves (“coffee bean”) and a dense fibroblastic stroma. Brenner tumor can be benign, borderline or malignant depending on the cytologic morphology and behavior.

Types

 benign Brenner tumor
 borderline Brenner tumor
 malignant Brenner tumor

Images

 Histopathology of Brenner tumour on WKM

• https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Histopathology_of_Brenner_tumour

 Benign Brenner tumor of the ovary

• https://twitter.com/BeynonMD/status/725131661013311488
• https://twitter.com/KUSAURAP/status/834264314018041856
• https://twitter.com/Josesordo/status/841780055214813184

 Malignant / Proliferating Brenner Tumor

• https://twitter.com/juan_rosai/status/791137095028973570

Digital case

 JRC:259 : Ovary: Brenner cell tumor, proliferating (low malignant potential) vs transitional cell carcinoma.

They are most frequently found as incidental findings on pelvic examination or at laparotomy. Brenner tumours very rarely can occur in other locations, including testis.

Macroscopy

On gross pathological examination, they are solid, sharply circumscribed and pale yellow-tan in colour. 90% are unilateral (arising in one ovary, the other is unaffected). The tumours can vary in size from less than 1 centimetre (0.39 in) to 30 centimetres (12 in). Borderline and malignant Brenner tumours are possible but each are rare.

Microscopy

Histologically, there are nests of transitional-type epithelial cells with longitudinal nuclear grooves (coffee bean nuclei) lying in abundant fibrous stroma.

Benign Brenner tumor shows sharply demarcated nests of transitional epithelial cells lying within an abundant fibrous stroma.

See also

 ovarian stromal tumors