Ovarian Metastasis from Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

World J Surg. 2021 Oct;45(10):3157-3164. doi: 10.1007/s00268-021-06209-x. Epub 2021 Jul 8.

Abstract

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a high propensity for systemic dissemination. Ovarian metastases are rare and poorly described.

Methods: We identified PDAC cases with ovarian metastasis from a prospectively maintained registry. We reported on the association between outcomes and clinicopathologic factors. Recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Results: Twelve patients with PDAC and synchronous or metachronous ovarian metastases were identified. Nine patients (75%) underwent pancreatectomy for localized PDAC and developed metachronous ovarian recurrence. The median OS for all patients was 25.4 (IQR:15.4-82.9) months. For the nine patients with metachronous ovarian metastasis, the median RFS and OS were 14.2 (IQR:7.2-58.3) and 44.6 (IQR:18.6-82.9) months, respectively. Nodal disease, poor grade, vascular invasion in the pancreatic primary, and bilateral ovarian disease tended to confer worse outcomes.

Conclusion: Patients with resected PDAC and ovarian recurrence tend to have a comparable disease course to more common patterns of recurrence. Primaries with nodal disease, poorer grade, vascular invasion, and bilateral ovarian disease were indicative of more aggressive disease biology. The ideal management remains largely unknown, and future collaborative efforts should optimize therapeutic strategies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma* / surgery
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal* / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Pancreatectomy
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies