Metastatic factors for Krukenberg tumor: a clinical study on 102 cases

Abstract

To investigate factors associated with gastrointestinal (GI) carcinomas metastasizing to ovaries to form Krukenberg tumor. Among the 102 cases of Krukenberg tumor due to GI cancers, there were 41 cases synchronously diagnosed, 43 cases with primary tumor identified first and 18 cases with ovarian tumor identified first. Metastatic factors of 43 cases of metachronous Krukenberg tumor were analyzed with univariate and multivariate methods. Of the 43 patients, the median age at diagnosis of Krukenberg tumor was 42 years (range, 21-72). Stomach is the most common primary site (58.1%), followed by colon (25.6%) and rectum (16.3%). Most of the patient was in premenopausal state (81.4%) and had bilateral ovaries involved (67.4%). The overall median metastasis-free time in T3 group (17.0 months) was significantly longer than that in T4 group (10.0 months) (P=0.003). Univariate analysis identified tumor invasion depth and ascites as significant factors for metastasis. Multivariate analysis confirmed that invasion depth was the only significant metastatic factor (Relative Risk: 3.2, P=0.004). Primary carcinomas T stage is the most important predictor of Krukenberg tumor from GI cancer.