Is laparoscopic oophorectomy rational in patients with breast cancer?

BACKGROUND: Unsuspected malignancy remains a problem for the laparoscopic surgeon. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of ovarian micrometastasis in patients with breast cancer who undergo laparoscopic oophorectomy. METHODS: We analyzed 25 premenopausal women with breast cancer who underwent therapeutic laparoscopic oophorectomy. The patients were subdivided into the following two groups according to ovarian pathology: group A with and group B without breast carcinoma micrometastasis. We then reviewed the follow-up data for both groups, with special attention to metastasis of the abdominal wall. RESULTS: Twelve of 44 ovaries removed by laparoscopy showed ovarian breast carcinoma micrometastasis. There were no predictive factors of micrometastasis. After a mean follow-up of 38.1 months (95% CI: 29.2-46.9 months), none of the patients with proven micrometastasis developed metastasis of the abdominal wall, and the 21 puncture sites were inconspicuous. CONCLUSIONS: Although 32% of patients may have unexpected ovarian micrometastasis, laparoscopic oophorectomy in patients with breast cancer remains a safe procedure.