Colon carcinoma metastatic to the ovary

We reviewed 17 patients with colon carcinoma metastatic to the ovary seen from 1970-1980. This represents 2.5% of the total malignant ovarian neoplasms seen during this time period. In 3/17 patients, exploratory celiotomy was performed without preoperative barium enema, stool for occult blood, or colonoscopy. These patients subsequently were found to have a primary colon carcinoma. Colectomy was performed in 8/17 of our patients without prophylactic oophorectomy. All of these patients subsequently developed metastatic ovarian carcinoma. Long-term survival in our series was dismal. We recommend (1) a compulsary colon examination to include colonoscopy prior to surgery for ovarian masses, and (2) prophylactic bilateral salphingo-oophorectomy at the time of colectomy for colon carcinoma.