Here are some key points about Krukenberg tumors:
*What is it?*
- Krukenberg tumors are rare tumors that grow in the ovaries, but they are not ovarian cancer. Instead, they are caused by another cancer, usually stomach cancer, that has spread to the ovaries.
*Symptoms*
- Abdominal or pelvic pain
- Bloating
- Ascites
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Vaginal bleeding
- Changes in menstrual habits
- Hirsutism
- Virilization (rare)
- Hydronephrosis and hydroureter (rare)
*Causes and incidence*
- Krukenberg tumors can occur at any age, but the average age is 45 years.
- In most countries, cancer that has metastasized to the ovary accounts for only about 1-2% of ovarian cancer; in the remainder, the ovary itself is the primary cancer site.
- However, in Japan, Krukenberg tumors represent a much higher percentage of malignancies in the ovary (almost 20%) due to the increased prevalence of gastric cancer.
*Treatment and prognosis*
- Since Krukenberg tumors are secondary (metastatic), management might logically be driven by identifying and treating the primary cancer.
- The optimal treatment of Krukenberg tumors is unclear.
- The role of surgical resection has not been adequately addressed, but if metastasis is limited to the ovaries, surgery may improve survival.
- The role of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy is uncertain but may sometimes be beneficial.
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