Ovarian metastasis from colorectal cancer: prognostic value of radical oophorectomy

BACKGROUND: Ovarian metastases from primary colorectal cancer occur in 3-8% of female patients. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of radical oophorectomy for ovarian metastasis from colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From our series of 859 patients operated for colorectal cancer from 1982 to 2005 ten patients with isolated ovarian metastasis were retrieved. Ovarian colorectal metastasis diagnosis was confirmed by pathology revision. Overall and disease-free survival after radical oophorectomy for metastases were assessed and compared with literature data. RESULTS: The median follow-up from ovarian metastases resection was 36 months (range 194-14). Survival analysis showed that survival rate after ovarian metastasectomy was 100% at 1 year and 80% at 5 years of follow up. CONCLUSION: Our study, although limited by a relatively short follow-up and small sample size, shows that bilateral oophorectomy for ovarian metastasis from colorectal cancer has a good impact on disease-free and overall survival.