Management of the Uninvolved Uterus and Adnexa During Routine Pelvic Peritonectomy in Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Varies by Histology and Menopausal Status: An International Survey of Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Surgeons.

BACKGROUND

No guidelines exist regarding the management of the uninvolved uterus or adnexa (fallopian tubes and/or ovaries) in patients with peritoneal metastases (PM) from non-gynecologic malignancies. It is unclear whether salpingo-oophorectomy, hysterectomy, or both should be performed when a complete pelvic peritonectomy is otherwise warranted.

METHODS

A 25-item electronic survey was sent to 225 surgeons worldwide who routinely perform cytoreductive surgery (CRS) plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Participants were recruited through listservs of expert groups. Individual surgeon approaches to the management of the grossly uninvolved uterus and adnexa in pre- and post-menopausal women with PM from low- and high-grade appendiceal neoplasms, colorectal cancer, and peritoneal mesothelioma were collected using a 5-point Likert scale.

RESULTS

A total of 135 complete responses (60% response rate) were obtained from surgeons practicing in 27 countries. Respondents reported a median practice of 10 years (interquartile range [IQR] 6-15 years) and a median performance of 20 (IQR 12-30) CRS/HIPEC operations per year. Rates of salpingo-oophorectomy differed by histology and a woman's menopausal status, ranging from 29 to 42% in pre-menopausal women to 71-77% in post-menopausal women (P < 0.001). Notably, the number of surgeons who would perform a hysterectomy was lower, ranging from 12 to 27% for pre-menopausal women and from 32 to 44% for post-menopausal women, dependent on histology (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Surgeons are overall more aggressive with adnexal resection than with hysterectomy in both pre- and post-menopausal women with PM from non-gynecologic malignancies. Further prospective studies are required to determine the best approach to optimize surgical and oncologic outcomes while also accounting for the fertility and hormonal impact.