Prophylactic salpingectomy for prevention of ovarian cancer at the time of elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy
There is strong evidence that most epithelial ovarian cancer starts in the fallopian tube. Pre malignant change is seen in 6% of women with a strong family history of ovarian cancer. It is recommended that women who are about to have pelvic surgery should be offered the choice of salpingectomy i.e. removal of the fallopian tubes at the same time.
This study explores the acceptability and consequences of a similar offer at the time of abdominal surgery, in particular cholecystectomy i.e. removal of the gall bladder. Cholecystectomy is a common operation, with more than 600,000 being done each year in the US. Up to 40% of women over 60 have gallstones.
Two thirds of women elected to have additional salpingectomy, when offered at the time of cholecystectomy, it was possible to perform the procedure without difficulty in 98%, and the extra operating time was about 13 minutes. There was no increase in postoperative complications. The specimens were not examined for pre malignant change. One woman did subsequently develop ovarian cancer and the specimen was reviewed, pre malignant change was noted in this instance
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