Background: Ovarian tumours are heterogenous neoplasms with a varied clinical, morphological and histological features. p53 overexpression has been associated with poor prognosis, poor overall survival and altered sensitivity to chemotherapy in patients with ovarian cancer. Aim and Objectives: To study the frequency, age distribution and the diverse histomorphological spectrum of ovarian tumors and to evaluate the frequency of immunohistochemical expression of p53 in different types of ovarian tumors. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of 100 ovarian tumours diagnosed in the Department of Pathology, Kilpauk Medical college, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. After gross examination of specimens, representative bits were taken, routinely processed and stained with H and E.Tumors were classified as per WHO classification. p53 expression was assessed immunohistochemically. Results: There were 14 malignant cases among 100 ovarian tumours of which commonest was Surface Epithelial tumours. p53 was found to be overexpressed in 85.7% of malignant tumours.

Keywords: Ovarian Tumours; p53; Immunohistochemistry.