Publications

Abstract

Objective: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is not so common in adolescents and young adults

(AYA). Little is known about tumour characteristics and prognosis of EOC in individuals aged 15-

39 years. This study was aimed to evaluate the clinic-pathological pattern and survival of AYA

individuals with EOC.

Methods: A retrospective data review of patients aged 15- 39 years with EOC diagnosed at the

Department of Gynaecologic Oncology of St. John’s Medical College Hospital, Bangalore, India,

and follow-up was done up to 1 year from the last patient included.

Results: The mean age of AYA patients were 33 years (21-39 years). Most common

presentation was abdominal distension (38.6%) followed by pain abdomen (31.8%).

Menstrual irregularities were noted in only 2 ( 4.5%) patients. Tumour size ranged from 3 to

30 cm and it was unilateral in more than 50% of cases. Of the 44 patients with EOC, 57.8%

patients were diagnosed at an advanced-stage EOC. Serous carcinoma was the most

common histological type, accounted for 72.7% of the patients followed by mucinous

histology (13.6%). Almost 70% of patients had high grade tumours of all histological types.

Among 44 patients, 31 underwent primary surgery and 13 received neoadjuvant

chemotherapy. The mean progressive free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was 5.8

years and 6.7 years respectively. There was a statistical difference in PFS by primary mode

of treatment but no difference in PFS by stage or grade of disease. There was also no

statistical difference in OS by stage, grade, or mode of treatment.

Conclusions: AYA with EOC are mostly diagnosed at an advanced staged. They are

commonly high-grade serous adenocarcinoma and unilateral tumours. Fertility sparing

surgery can be considered in low grade and early stage EOC.