Step 1: Ovarian tumors are grouped into surface epithelial, germ cell and sex cord stromal tumors. The surface epithelial group accounts for the majority of all ovarian cancers.
Step 2: Within the epithelial group, serous tumors are the commonest, and the malignant form, serous cystadenocarcinoma, is the single most common malignant ovarian tumor. It is often bilateral and may show psammoma bodies on histology.
Step 3: Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma is less frequent than the serous type. Malignant teratoma is a germ cell tumor and is much rarer, while ovarian sarcoma is uncommon.
Step 4: Therefore the most common malignant ovarian tumor is serous cystadenocarcinoma.