When Ovarian Cancer Is Not: Characterizing Nonovarian Cancer Pathology in a Laparoscopy-Based Triage System

This study sought to investigate and describe nonovarian cancer pathologies discovered during the systematic laparoscopic workup of presumed advanced ovarian cancer. Methods A retrospective cohort of patients with presumed advanced ovarian cancer (based on elevated CA125 and/or imaging) presenting to our center without confirmed pathologic diagnosis were identified and characterized. Patients without ovarian cancer on final pathology were described and compared with those with confirmed epithelial ovarian cancer using standard statistical methods. Results Nonovarian cancer was found in 26 (7.1%) of 365 cases over 3.5 years of study, and included benign ovarian pathology, and metastatic uterine, breast, and gastrointestinal cancers. Most nonovarian cancer cases could not be diagnosed with percutaneous biopsy, and instead used diagnostic laparoscopy or assessment at the time of laparotomy for diagnosis (58%). No patient received inappropriate treatment. Nonovarian cancer cases were more likely to be nonwhite (P = 0.003), have a better Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (P
Source: International Journal of Gynecological Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Ovarian Cancer Source Type: research