A New Policy Regarding Ovarian Resection in Young Women Treated for Peritoneal Carcinomatosis.

Objective: To appreciate if the ovaries can be preserved in selected young women with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). Background: The traditional rule is to resect the ovaries systematically when PC is found at surgery. Methods: A new policy was developed to preserve the ovaries when they were macroscopically normal in young women with PC of different origin who expressed a strong desire for future pregnancy. Results: A total of 106 women younger than age 41 years underwent complete cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. At least one ovary was preserved in 29 % of them (and in 44 % of those who strongly wished future pregnancy). Among resected 'normal' ovaries, 17 % were involved by tumor at the final pathologic examination. Among the resected 'suspicious' ovaries, 38 % were involved. Among the 29 preserved ovaries (in 21 women), after a median follow-up of 32 months, 4 (14 %) developed ovarian recurrence, in 3 of them associated with other metastases. Two women became pregnant. In five women with partially normal ovary, egg harvesting and cryopreservation was performed. Conclusions: This new policy allowed ovarian preservation in 44 % of the young women wishing childbearing and allowed two births. Recurrence in the preserved ovary was 14 % with our criteria of selection. This policy is promising but can be further improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]