Prevention of ovarian cancer with bilateral oophorectomy at time of hysterectomy.
A review of all patients with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer for five years (1989-1993) in the military hospital, the public health hospital and the two private hospitals in Anchorage, Alaska was conducted. Fifty-eight women were found with a diagnosis of advanced ovarian cancer. These charts were reviewed to determine the incidence of prior hysterectomy with preservation of ovaries. Of the fifty-eight, thirteen (22%) had prior hysterectomies with the ovaries left in place. Review of the literature supported this statistic in similar studies. Ovarian cancer has such a poor prognosis that prevention is in order. The data demonstrate that ovarian cancer could have been prevented in a significant number of these patients had they had bilateral oophorectomies at the time of hysterectomy. With the relative safety of hormonal replacement therapy, a significant way to prevent ovarian cancer is available--bilateral oophorectomy.
McGuire
P A
PA
Conklin
B H
BH
Webb
D I
DI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010052:Ovariectomy