Resected ovarian recurrence from colorectal adenocarcinoma: a study of 13 cases

Thirteen (1.4 per cent) of 882 female patients managed by resection for primary colorectal adenocarcinoma subsequently required for operation for ovarian recurrence. The clinical, pathologic and survival data of this group have been analyzed. Their age (mean +/- s.d., 51.2 +/- 8.4 years) was less (P = 0.004) than that of the total series of female patients (59.4 +/- 13.0 years). Survival varied from 15 to 96 months (mean 17 months) from the ovarian operation. Three patients were still alive with no evidence of recurrence at the time of the review. The low incidence of ovarian recurrence requiring operation does not support recommendations for prophylactic oophorectomy in all patients.