Mucinous tumors of the ovary. Ultrastructural studies of mucinous cystadenomas with histogenetic considerations.

On the basis of light microscopic and scanning and transmission ultrastructural observations, we have classified benign mucinous ovarian neoplasms into two types: a pure endocervical type and a mixed intestinal endocervical type. We have also reviewed the literature pertinent to the histogenetic origin of the ovarian mucinous cystoma and found convincing support for a mesodermal, coelomic epithelial, rather than a teratomatous, derivation.