Occult Ovarian Tumors in Women With BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutations Undergoing Prophylactic Oophorectomy

Abstract

Foci of malignant tumor are not uncommon in prophylactic oophorectomies performed in women at very high risk for ovarian cancer and may not be detected on ultrasonograms. Surgeons should have a high suspicion of finding cancer in these women at the time of prophylactic surgery, and careful pathologic assessment of the specimens should be conducted.