OVARIAN CONSERVATION

Abstract

Three hundred ten cases have been followed 5[plus or minus] years after unilateral oophorectomy. Development of a neoplasm in the preserved ovary has indicated its removal in 21 cases. A neoplasm developed in the preserved ovary within 5 years in 10 cases and between the 6th and 21st year in 11 cases. Of the 310 women we have followed for 5-21 years after preservation of one ovary at oophorectomy, only 7 have developed a malignant tumor in the carefully preserved ovary, but every one of the 7 are dead. Seven of them have also developed malignancy of the breast and 3 of these 7 have died of this disease. The ultimate risk of malignancy is, however, not the only eventuality which should be taken into consideration before deciding to conserve or to remove the ovaries. Extraovarian sources of estrogen are not constant or predictable and, as a result, the effects of ovarian removal are not predictable either.