Ovarian cancer during pregnancy: analysis of 15 cases

Abstract

Goal: Our goal was to analyze and describe cases of ovarian cancer in pregnant women treated at our hospital.

Method: Retrospective study based on clinical histories from patients diagnosed and treated at our hospital for ovarian cancer and pregnancy from 1987 to 2005.

Results: Fifteen cases of ovarian cancer were diagnosed among pregnant women; the ratio is 0.11/1000 deliveries. Among them, 66.6% of patients were asymptomatic, and 86.6% had been diagnosed via ultrasound. Of the diagnosed tumors, 40% were malignant epithelial tumors, 26.6% of them were of low malignant potential. The 20% were germinal cell tumors. Of these primary ovarian malignancies, the 59.9% were stage I. The remaining 20% were metastatic tumors. Forty percent of the total were treated conservatively (salpingo-oophorectomy) and 60% with hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Chemotherapy was administered to 66.6% of the patients, in two cases during pregnancy. Eighty percent of the newborns were healthy and presented no sequelae or malformations. Global survival at 5 years was 76%.

Conclusions: Ovarian cancer is rare in pregnant women. Most malignant ovarian neoplasias in pregnant women are at early stages and are associated with good prognosis both for the mother and for the neonate.