Salpingectomy With Delayed Oophorectomy in BRCA1/2 Mutation Carriers: Estimating Ovarian Cancer Risk.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate BRCA1/2 mutation carriers' cumulative ovarian cancer risks after risk-reducing salpingectomy at various ages with delayed oophorectomy several years later compared with risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy.

METHODS: A literature search was performed on cumulative ovarian cancer risks and effects of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy and salpingectomy. Results were used in a modeling study to estimate cumulative ovarian cancer risks for various scenarios of salpingectomy with delayed oophorectomy and risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy using Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS: Estimated cumulative ovarian cancer risks at age 70 years for risk-reducing salpingectomy with delayed oophorectomy are highest for BRCA1 mutation carriers undergoing surgeries at higher age. Maximum increase in point estimates (from 1.8% to 4.1%) occurs in 40-year-old BRCA1 mutation carriers undergoing oophorectomy at age 45 years after nonprotective salpingectomy instead of salpingo-oophorectomy at age 40 years. In the best-case scenario, assuming 65% risk reduction by salpingectomy and 96% by salpingo-oophorectomy, point estimates increase (from 1.8% to 2.6%) or decrease (from 3.4% to 3.3%) depending on age. In the worst-case scenario for BRCA2, point estimates maximally increase from 0.6% to 1.8% in 45-year-old carriers when oophorectomy is performed at age 50 years instead of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy at age 45 years. In the best-case scenario, point estimates increase (from 1.3% to 1.5%) or decrease (from 1.5 to 1.3%).

CONCLUSION: Differences in estimated ovarian cancer risks between risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy and salpingectomy with delayed oophorectomy are small, even if salpingectomy is ineffective. Presented estimated ovarian cancer risks can be used in counseling BRCA1/2 mutation carriers, thereby facilitating a personalized and well-informed choice for either strategy.