Metastatic ovarian tumours. A diagnostic and therapeutic challenge

The ovaries are common sites of metastases, being the most common reproductive organ affected. Between 10% and 20% of bilateral ovarian tumours are considered to be metastatic disease. They can be divided into non-Krukenberg metastatic tumours or Krukenberg tumours, each of which can have particular characteristics regarding age of presentation and prognosis. Histopathological diagnosis can be a real challenge, which will require of special immunohistochemistry stains to identify the primary tumour site. It is not possible to define a treatment protocol for these patients, since the multiple primary sources of neoplasms and its diverse extension hinder this, leading to a poor prognosis at the time of diagnosis. Clinical course and prognosis are determined by the biological behaviour of primary neoplasm and not so much by the presence of metastasis to the ovary. (C) 2016 Sociedad Mexicana de Oncologia. Published by Masson Doyma Mexico S.A.