Prophylactic oophorectomy for ovarian cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer is the leading cause of gynecologic cancer death. Strategies for risk modifications must begin with an accurate assessment of risk factors, the most important of which is family history. Approximately 10% of ovarian cancer is related to familial syndromes, including hereditary breast/ovarian cancer syndrome and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal carcinoma syndrome, otherwise known as Lynch syndrome type II. Individuals at high-risk for ovarian cancer may avail themselves of several methods to attempt to decrease their chances for developing ovarian cancer, including chemoprophylaxis, intensive cancer surveillance, and prophylactic oophorectomy, though surgery remains the most effective prevention method currently available.