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What Is Serous Carcinoma?

Andy Josiah
Andy Josiah

Serous carcinoma is a type of cancer that traces its origins to serous fluid, or serum. This is a bodily fluid that is transparent and yellowish, and it is also known as blood serum since it is separated as a liquid substance from blood when it is clotted. Serous carcinoma is sometimes classified as an epithelial malignancy, or harmful tumors that occur in the epithelium, which is a tissue that lines the body's cavities and surfaces. The epithelium produces serum or a serum-like substance. The status of the epithelium as one of the body's main tissues, as well as its capacity of producing serum or a serum-like substance, is the major reason why there are several types of this carcinoma.

The most common form of serous carcinoma, as well as the deadliest, occurs in the ovary. Based on a report by the American Cancer Society, the occurrence of this disease is rather rare, accounting for 6 percent of cancers in the female population. Ovarian carcinoma, however, does not typically exhibit clear physical symptoms. This leads to a tardy diagnosis, by which time it might have spread to the abdomen and other parts of the body. The resulting prognosis is not good: a 15 to 20 percent chance of living up to five years. It is estimated that more than 90 percent of ovarian cancers occur in the epithelium.

More than 90 percent of ovarian cancers are of the epithelial type.
More than 90 percent of ovarian cancers are of the epithelial type.

Another type of serous carcinoma is uterine serous carcinoma (USC), which can also be referred to as uterine cancer, uterine serous adenocarcinoma, or uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC). It develops in a specialized form of epithelium called endothelium, which lines the inner surface of blood vessels with thin layers of cells. In this particular case, the cancer develops in the endothelium that lines the uterus, or womb. This form of cancer most commonly occurs in postmenopausal women, and physicians usually diagnose it during endometrial biopsy. Like ovarian cancer, however, USC is a rare form of malignancy.

Unusual vaginal bleeding may be a sign of uterine cancer.
Unusual vaginal bleeding may be a sign of uterine cancer.

This carcinoma also falls under the cervical cancer umbrella. This is because most cervical cancers end up being squamous cell carcinoma, named after the layer of flat epithelial cells that can be found lining the cervix. Another common form of cervical carcinoma is adenocarcinoma. This develops in epithelial cells that line organs such as the lungs, colon and prostate, thus leading physicians to attribute the origin of adenocarcinoma to glandular tissue.

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    • More than 90 percent of ovarian cancers are of the epithelial type.
      By: javiindy
      More than 90 percent of ovarian cancers are of the epithelial type.
    • Unusual vaginal bleeding may be a sign of uterine cancer.
      By: Dragos Iliescu
      Unusual vaginal bleeding may be a sign of uterine cancer.
    • Serous cardinoma falls under the cervical cancer umbrella.
      By: joshya
      Serous cardinoma falls under the cervical cancer umbrella.
    • The most common form of serous carcinoma is in the ovary.
      By: joshya
      The most common form of serous carcinoma is in the ovary.
    • According to the American Cancer Society, the occurrence of serous carcinoma in the ovary is rare.
      By: Dreadlock
      According to the American Cancer Society, the occurrence of serous carcinoma in the ovary is rare.
    • Ovarian serous carcinoma has few physical symptoms, often leading to a late diagnosis and poor prognosis.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Ovarian serous carcinoma has few physical symptoms, often leading to a late diagnosis and poor prognosis.
    • Uterine cancer is a type of serous carcinoma.
      By: JackF
      Uterine cancer is a type of serous carcinoma.