Long-term survival in patients with ovarian metastases from colorectal carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Ovarian metastases (OM) are a relatively uncommon consequence of primary colorectal carcinoma (CRC). The authors present a retrospective review of the impact of elective and therapeutic oophorectomy on the natural history of CRC.


METHODS
Patients with primary CRC from January 1964 through March 1996 were reviewed. Survival from the time of OM diagnosis was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method; differences between groups were based on the log-rank test.


RESULTS
A total of 155 patients were studied. Synchronous OM occurred in 90 patients (58.1%); metachronous OM occurred in 65 patients (41.9%). Estimated 5-year survival for patients with synchronous OM was 9%, versus 20% for metachronous OM (P < .0001). Resection of metastatic disease was associated with an improved 5-year survival for synchronous OM (15% vs. 0%, P=.0001) and metachronous OM (24% vs. 0%, P < .0001) if patients were disease-free postoperatively. Other clinical characteristics, including age, menopausal status, stage, and location of primary tumor, had no significant impact on survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Ovarian metastases from colorectal carcinoma are associated with a poor outcome. Although there is no survival advantage associated with resection of occult microscopic disease, long-term survival is possible if patients are rendered surgically disease-free.
Huang
P P
PP
Division of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, State University of New York at Buffalo, 14263, USA.
Weber
T K
TK
Mendoza
C
C
Rodriguez-Bigas
M A
MA
Petrelli
N J
NJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D010052:Ovariectomy; D012189:Retrospective Studies