[Analysis of 21 cases of epithelial ovarian malignancies in women aged below 30 years].

OBJECTIVE

To study the presentation, histology type, stage of disease, treatment and outcome of epithelial ovarian malignancies in young women less than 30 years old.

METHOD: A total of 21 cases of epithelial ovarian malignancies in young women less than 30 years old between Jan 1986 and Mar 2002 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

The median age at the time of diagnosis was 24 years (range 16-29 years). All carcinomas occurred after menarche. The most common presenting symptoms were abdominal pain (50%), followed by tympanites (25%) and dysmenorrhea (19%), and the initial diagnosis was usually made based on physical examination, ultrasonography and serum CA(125). The mean maximal tumor diameter was 17.6 cm. Ten (67%) patients had stage I disease (5 Ia, 5 Ic), and 5 (33%) had stage III disease at the time of diagnosis; 43% were mucinous tumors, and 29% serous ones. Most tumors were well-differentiated ones classified as grade 1, 73%, others were grade 2, 13%, and grade 3, 13%. Optimal cytoreduction was achieved in 93% (14/15) of patients in primary treatment and 83% (5/6) in recurrence treatment. Eight patients were treated with conservative surgery, and 18 patients with chemotherapy, of which 7 patients had more than six courses of chemotherapy. The median follow-up was 50 months (range, 2-192 months). Six patients died in this series, 2 were alive with tumor, 11 alive free of tumor, and two were lost in follow-up. The 3-year and 5-year survival rate was 89%, and 76%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Young patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma appear to have favorable stage and histologic grade and good survival.