Ovaries - Developmental Pathology

CONGENITAL ABNORMALITIES OF THE OVARIES

• Ovarian agenesis: One or both ovaries. Rare but seen in pig and ruminants.
• Accessory ovaries: Rare but seen in pig and dog.
• Ovarian hypoplasia: Rare in Britain but recognised in Swedish Highland cattle (autosomal recessive gene). Affected cattle have a bilateral condition and infantilism of the tract. It is important to differentiate between true hypoplasia and developed but non functioning ovaries in adult cows.
• Vascular Hamartoma: An incidental finding in the cow, pig and horse. Seen as a dark red mass on ovarian surface composed of connective tissue and vascular channels.
• Cysts: Parovarian cysts arise from mesonephric or paramesonephric ducts, they can be large and seen in the mare, dog and cat.

Information by permission of Professor RW Else