The role of cytoreductive surgery for non-genital tract metastatic tumors to the ovaries.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate prognostic factors of patients with metastases to the ovaries from non-genital organs.

STUDY DESIGN: From September 1994 to December 2006, 158 patients with pathologically confirmed metastatic tumors to the ovaries at Samsung Medical Center (SMC) were included in this study. The data were obtained from the patients' medical records and pathology reports.

RESULTS: The primary tumor origin was mostly stomach (73 cases) and colon (61 cases). Krukenberg tumor (pathologically proven signet ring cell carcinoma) was found in 34 cases: stomach (25), colon (2), appendix (1), and unknown (6). Residual disease after surgery was >2 cm in 65 (41.1%) cases and <2 cm in 93 (58.9%) cases. The overall 5-year survival was 7.2% and the median survival time was 15 months. The median survival times according to the primary tumor site showed significant differences (p=0.002) and were as follows: stomach 12 months, colon 17 months. The median survival in cases with residual disease <2 cm vs. >2 cm was 26 months vs. 15 months (p=0.017) and the median survival with vs. without adjuvant chemotherapy was 16 months vs. 10 months (p=0.001). However, age, bilateral tumors, chronology of diagnosis and mass size did not affect survival.

CONCLUSION: Cytoreductive surgery and post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy had a beneficial effect on survival in selected patients.