Krukenberg Tumor: A Review of Prognostic Factors and Management

Aim: This review aims to summarize current evidence on Krukenberg Tumors (KT), addressing the main prognostic determinants and its’ management. Background: Krukenberg Tumors are rare metastatic tumors of the ovary. They were initially described by Friederich Ernst Krukenberg in 1896. They arise from extra-ovarian primary signet-ring cell carcinomas, being the gastrointestinal tract the most common site of origin. The most common clinical presentation of KT is an abdominal mass or discomfort in a premenopausal 40 to the 50-year-old woman. The prognosis is extremely poor compared to primary ovarian cancer. Results: Overall survival may vary significantly according to the choice and timing of treatment. The effective treatment strategies for KT are still controversial. However, therapeutic options include surgical resection as the mainstay of treatment when possible and the application of different Chemotherapy (CT) regimens. Conclusions: Several factors negatively affect prognosis: an incomplete metastasectomy, extensive disease at diagnosis and the origin of the tumor are the main factors that most authors agree incur in a worse prognosis. KT’s optimal therapeutic strategies are still a matter of debate, raising the need for more studies to achieve consensus.