Ovarian metastases from colorectal cancer: prognostic role of prophylactic oophorectomy. A single center experience.

BACKGROUND

The incidence of ovarian metastases (OM) from colorectal cancer (CRC) is uncommon but women with OM from CRC had poorer quality of life and decreased survival. Mateials and

Methods

The authors retrospectively categorized women submitted to surgery for CRC from January 2004 to December 2012 considering previous mono- or bilateral-oophorectomy, oophorectomy performed during colorectal resection, and oophorectomy performed after surgery for CRC and its cause. The analysis focused on two groups: women who underwent surgery for CRC before menopause and after menopause. Survival outcome in terms of overall survival (OS) and disease- free survival (DFS) were assessed and appearance of OM was also evaluated.

RESULTS

In postmenopausal women with CRC who underwent left hemicolectomy or anterior resection of the rectum the incidence of OM was 4 % with a statistical significance (p < 0.05). The mean OS of patients with metachronous OM was 26 months and the patients' age ranged from 60 to 70 years.

CONCLUSION

The authors suggest prophylactic oophorectomy in postmenopausal women with an age between 60 and 70 years with cancer of left colon or rectum; in these patients there was an increased risk of metachronous OM with related decrease of OS.