Brenner tumors: pictorial review
Number:27ESURABS0041
Type:Educational Electronic Presentation
Authors: Filipa Costeira, Ana Félix, Teresa Margarida Cunha
Keywords:Brenner tumor; ovary; MRI; adnexal tumor
SECTIONS
Educational objective

-To review the main imaging and histopathological findings of Brenner tumors

-To summarize the main differential diagnoses of Brenner tumors

Topic Review

INTRODUCTION

Brenner tumors (BT) are rare ovarian neoplasms, representing 2–3% of ovarian tumors.

They are the most common subtype of ovarian urothelial-type tumors and usually occur in older patients. The majority of BT arise in adults in the 5th to 7th decade of life, although they may occur in patients aged under 30 years or over 80 years.

Based on the classification of female genital tumors by the World Health Organization (WHO), BT can be benign, borderline or malignant, based on proliferation and invasiveness.

Benign Brenner tumors (BBT), which represent about 95% of cases, are often incidental findings in asymptomatic women, as they usually present as small neoplasms.

Borderline and malignant tumors correspond to 5% and 1% of patients with BT, respectively, and tend to be symptomatic more frequently, due to their...

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Fig. 1 Solid Brenner tumor of the right ovary. Transvaginal ultrasound images show solid, hypoechoic ovarian tumor, with multiple milimetric calcifications (arrow), representing a benign Brenner tumor
Fig. 2 Benign mixed Brenner tumor and mucinous cystadenoma of the right ovary. a – Transvaginal ultrasound images show mixed cystic and solid components, with calcifications in the solid portion (arrow); b – Macroscopic evaluation revealed an ovary partially replaced by a solid and cystic tumor.
Conclusions

Brenner tumors are rare ovarian neoplasms whose imaging features are non-specific, which makes their diagnosis ultimately histopathological.

The great majority of Brenner tumors are benign, but their borderline and malignant forms should also be considered.

Ovarian fibroma and thecoma, pedunculated leiomyoma and cystadenofibroma represent the main differential diagnosis.