[Metastatic cancer in the ovary--report of 57 cases]

Fifty-seven patients with metastatic ovarian cancer arising from extra-genital sites are analysed. 80.8%, 14% and 5.3% of the primary cancers were from gastrointestinal tract (GI), breast and lung, respectively. The primary carcinoma was diagnosed before the discovery of ovarian tumor in 24 patients. The ovarian and primary carcinomas were found simultaneously in 11 patients (including one autopsy), while in 22 patients, the primary cancer was not discovered until the ovarian tumor had been resected. Both ovaries were involved in 60% of GI cancer and 12.5% of breast cancer. 91.2% of the patients were found to have metastasis to other tissues and organs outside the ovary. Of patients with GI cancer, 80.8% had metastasis to the abdomino-pelvic cavity, 73.7% had ascites and 52.2% had lymphatic metastasis. The majority of the patients with breast cancer had lymphatic (75%) and hematogenous (50%) metastases. In this series, the prognosis was poor in all the patients with an average survival time of 11 months. 63.2% and 86% of the patients died within 1 and 2 years. These facts indicate that ovarian involvement may be an important part of widespread dissemination from the primary cancer.