A retrospective study on ovarian cancer with a median follow-up of 36 months at Bejaïa University Hospital

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is relatively common but serious and has a poor prognosis. The aim of this study is to highlight the epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects of this malignant pathology managed at the Bejaia university hospital center. This is a retrospective and descriptive study over a period of 3 years (2019 - 2022) carried out on 20 patients who developed ovarian cancer. The average age of the patients was 50 years old, 53.23% of whom were over 45 years old. The CA-125 blood test was positive in 18 out of 20 patients. The tumors were discovered on ultrasound in 87.10% of cases and at laparotomy in 12.90%. Total hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy was the most performed procedure (64.52%). The early postoperative course was simple. 15 patients underwent second look surgery (16.13%) for locoregional recurrences. Epithelial tumors were the most frequent histological type (93.55%), including 79% in the advanced stage ( IIIc -IV) and 21% in the early stage (Ia- Ib ). Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered in 80% of patients. With a median follow-up of 36 months, 2 patients were lost to follow-up. The evolution was favorable in 27.42% and in 25.81% deaths occurred late postoperatively. Ovarian cancer is not common but serious given the advanced stages and the high rate of late postoperative deaths which were largely observed in patients deprived of adequate neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy.