[Ovarian metastases in breast carcinoma]

The effect on prognosis of the presence of ovarian metastases was studied in patients oophorectomized in treatment of progressive breast cancer. At laparotomy, 28% (n = 42) were found to have ovarian metastases. This high percentage indicates that cases studied were in a relatively progressed state. In the cases with ovarian metastases, the clinical course of the disease was no different to those histologically free from metastases. It appears therefore that the presence of secondary ovarian metastases at oophorectomy is of no therapeutic or prognostic significance. The time interval between oophorectomy and mastectomy, however, apparently does have a bearing on the progress of the disease.