Ovarian Cancer After Prophylactic Salpingectomy in a Patient With Germline BRCA1 Mutation.

Overview

BACKGROUND: Women with germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations have a lifetime risk of ovarian cancer of up to 46%. Opportunistic salpingectomy has been advocated as a risk-reducing strategy owing to increasing recognition of tubal origin, yet evidence of efficacy in this high-risk population is limited. CASE: This is the case of a woman with a BRCA1 mutation who underwent prophylactic mastectomy and bilateral salpingectomy with ovarian retention before the age of 40 years. She did not undergo oophorectomy and subsequently developed stage IV high-grade serous ovarian cancer 4 years after her initial surgery. CONCLUSION: More research is needed to determine the role of prophylactic salpingectomy with delayed oophorectomy, optimal timing of completion oophorectomy, and the risks and benefits compared with up-front risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy.