Background: High-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) is the most common tubo-ovarian cancer. The fallopian tube harbours the precursor lesion: serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC). Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is an effective risk-reducing surgical (RRS) strategy for breast cancer susceptibility gene mutation carriers (BRCAm). The value of RRS in those without defined genetic risk is unknown but these women represent a substantial cohort in prophylactic surgical practice.
Methods: This is a retrospective review of RRS at an Irish university teaching hospital.
Results: One hundred and thirty women underwent RRS; group 1 = 46 BRCAm; group 2 = 19 BRCAm negative/65 genetic status unknown. Group 1 had one occult HGSC. Group 2 had no STIC or cancers and were older and more likely to have hysterectomy and benign pathology. Other pathologies included serous tubal intraepithelial lesions (STIL) (2), p53 signatures (2), endometriosis (6), fibroids/adenomyosis (4) and atypical endometrial hyperplasia (1).
Conclusion: More than 60% of women undergoing RRS were BRCAm negative or untested. Counselling of high-risk women without defined germline mutations remains a challenge for gynaecologists because the likelihood of removing STIC lesions or occult invasive cancer is low. Removal of coincidental pathology may give added value to RRS in these women.
Keywords: BRCA mutation; Risk reduction surgery; Tubo-ovarian cancer.