Krükenberg tumors and ovarian metastases of breast cancer
Krulik, M.
Presse Medicale 26(10): 452-453
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0755-4982 PMID: 9137365 Document Number: 483236
Metastasis to the ovary has been estimated occur in 6 to 27.8% of all cancers. The wide variation resulting both from methodology and the small, often microscopic size of these secondary tumors. Many are mucocellular tumors or Krükenberg's tumors (ovarian carcinoma mucocellular) considered by some to include all ovarian metastases and by others to be limited to metastasis of gastrointestinal or gastric cancer. The work presented in this issue by Le bouëdec et al. concentrates on a homogeneous series of clinically diagnosed ovarian carcinoma mucocellular secondary to breast cancer. Manifestations of ovarian metastasis, pelvic weight or ascitis, usually develop approximately 5 years after diagnosis of localized breast cancer and occur with other metastatic localizations in half the cases. Ovarian metastasis is particularly frequent from invasive lobular breast cancer; the primary tumoral type was invasive lobular carcinoma in 8 out to the 10 patients in the series reported here by Le Bouëdec et al., while this type is found in only 8% of breast cancers. This observation is further supported by data in the literature demonstrating the unusual propagation routes of these infiltrating lobular cancers. The authors draw the reader's attention to the short median survival after diagnosis, 18 months, emphasizing the importance of careful follow-up after diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.