Metastatic Tumors of the Ovary: the Rate of Incidence and the Most Frequent Sites of Primary Tumors

Ovary is one of the main endocrine glands, also the source of female fertility and at the same time the organ with the largest number of histological varieties of malignant tumors. The most frequent among primary neoplasms are epithelial tumors. Secondary tumors of the ovary arise by direct tumor extension from adjacent organs or tissues, by transtubal or transperitoneal route, as well as hematogenously, limphogenously and by jatrogenic dissemination. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of metastatic ovarian tumors and to determine the most common sites of primary tumors. The study group consisted of 488 patients with histopathologically confirmed malignant ovarian tumors treated at the Clinic of Oncology, Clinical Center Nis, in the period from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2005. In order to determine the origin of metastatic tumors, beside histological and clinical examination, radiological, endoscopic and radioisotopic methods used. Epithelial malignant tumors were found in 398/488 (81,56%) patients, sex cord tumors in 29/488 (5,94%) cases, germ cell tumors in 14/488 (2,87%) patients and mesenchimal tumors not specific for ovary in 6/488 (1,23%) cases. Metastatic ovarian tumors were verified in 41/488 (8,40%) patients. The most frequent ovarian secondary deposits derived from endometrial carcinoma (30/41, or 73,17%). Eight patients (19,51%) had breast carcinoma, 2/41 (4,88%) stomach carcinoma and 1/41 (2,44%) colorectal carcinoma. Average age of patients with metastatic ovarian tumors was significantly higher (p<0,05) compared with patients with primary ovarian tumors. Metastatic tumors are an important group of ovarian neoplasms (8,40%). Metastases of endometrial and colorectal carcinoma are diagnosed during histopathological analysis of the primary tumor. All breast carcinomas are diagnosed before their ovarian secondary deposits, while in both cases of stomach carcinomas diagnosis of primary tumor was confirmed later. Acta Medica Medianae 2007;46(4):5-9.