Epidemiological and Pathological Correlates of Postoperative Mortality of Patients with Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Background: Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy and is the fifth most common cause of cancer-related death among women. The current study was designed to investigate the epidemiological and pathological correlates of postoperative mortality of ovarian cancer at a tertiary care center in Mansoura, Egypt. Methods: An epidemiological analysis of prospectively collected data of ninety five primary ovarian cancer cases referred to the Surgical Oncology Center at Mansoura University Hospitals, Mansoura, Egypt. The association of the epidemiological, pathological data and the serum levels of the tumor marker CA-125 and 6-months and 1-year mortality was statistically tested. Results: A total of 95 ovarian cancer cases were included in the current study. The mean age of patients was 52.18 ranging from 14 to 98 years, and the median age was 53 years. Pathological examination showed that serous cancers were the most common type detected in 46 (48%), followed by adenocarcinoma in 24 (25%) and then mucinous in 9 (9 %) patients. Cases presented at late stages of the ovarian cancer disease with 51 (55%) cases presenting with stage III and IV. The majority of cases (n=83, 88.1%) received neo adjuvant chemotherapy. The average serum CA- 125 level was 325.38 U/ml with 50 % of cases had readings equal to or more than 233.15 U/ml. The mortality rate at 6 months was 4% and at 1-year was 17%. Age was positively correlated with 6 months mortality (p<0.05). Ninety percent of deaths at one year occurred in patients more than 45 years of age and 50% of deaths occurred in patients more than 60 years of age. Conclusion: In a tertiary care surgical oncology center in Mansoura, Egypt, patients with ovarian cancer are more commonly to present with later stage