Demographic and Clinicopathological Characteristics of Ovarian Cancer: A Retrospective Study from One Libyan Tertiary Centre

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy worldwide, largely due to its late-stage presentation and diagnostic delay. Despite a growing understanding of histological heterogeneity, clinicopathological data from Libya remain scarce. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological and clinicopathological characteristics of ovarian cancer in a Libyan patient population. This retrospective study included 114 patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer at Tripoli University Hospital. Data including Age at diagnosis, histological type and subtype distribution, and tumor laterality were collected from pathological records. Data were analyzed descriptively, and categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages. The age at diagnosis ranged from 15 to 83 years (mean 43.5 ± 17 years, median age 45 years). The most commonly affected age group was 30–44 years, accounting for 36% of cases. Epithelial ovarian carcinoma was the predominant histological type, representing 76% of all cases. Among the epithelial subtypes, serous adenocarcinoma was the most common (~41%), followed by endometrioid carcinoma (~20%), mucinous cystadenocarcinoma (~10%), and clear cell carcinoma (~5%). Non-epithelial tumors account for 24% of cases, of which granulosa cell tumors were the most frequently observed, representing 18% of the total study cohort.  Bilateral ovarian involvement was observed in 50% of cases, while unilateral disease accounted for the remaining 50%, with right-sided tumor being more common (35%) than the left side (15%). This study presents one of the largest clinicopathological descriptions of ovarian cancer from Libya to date. Our findings reveal a younger age at diagnosis compared with Western countries. The histological profile is characterized by an elevated proportion of endometrioid and mucinous carcinoma relative to the global average. A high rate of bilateral ovarian involvement strongly suggests advanced disease at diagnosis. These results highlight the need to expand the national cancer registry in Libya to include pathological type data. In addition, improve access to genetic testing, particularly BRCA1 and BRCA2, and establish region-specific early detection programs across North Africa.