Risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in relation to benign ovarian conditions and ovarian surgery

Mary Anne Rossing, Kara L Cushing-Haugen, Kara L. Cushing‐Haugen, Kristine G Wicklund, Jennifer A Doherty, Noel S Weiss
Cancer causes & control : CCC · 2008 · vol. 19(10) , pp. 1357–1364 · doi:10.1007/s10552-008-9207-9 · PMID:18704718 · W2095500109
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06+body, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

A history of ovarian cysts increased the risk of borderline mucinous tumors, while subsequent surgery reduced invasive epithelial ovarian cancer risk, and endometriosis increased endometrioid and clear cell tumor risk.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 · read from full text ⓘ

This case-control study examined whether prior diagnoses of ovarian cysts and endometriosis, and subsequent ovarian surgery, were associated with the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer subtypes, using in-person interview data from 812 women with ovarian cancer (western Washington State, 2002–2005) and 1,313 population-based controls. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios for borderline and invasive tumor types. The authors found increased risk of borderline mucinous ovarian tumors after ovarian cyst history, while invasive epithelial cancer risk was slightly increased without surgery but reduced after cyst diagnosis followed by surgery, with the reduction most evident for serous invasive tumors; women with endometriosis showed a threefold increased risk of endometrioid and clear cell invasive tumors, with smaller increases among those who underwent subsequent surgery. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it quantifies how prior endometriosis diagnosis relates to specific epithelial ovarian cancer subtypes and how ovarian surgery may modify that relationship.

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Abstract

Objective Some forms of ovarian neoplasms may be preventable through the removal of precursor lesions. We assessed the risk associated with a prior diagnosis of, and ovarian surgery following, ovarian cysts and endometriosis, with a focus on characterizing risk among tumor subgroups.

Methods

Information was collected during in-person interviews with 812 women with ovarian cancer diagnosed in western Washington State from 2002 to 2005 and 1,313 population-based controls. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

The risk of a borderline mucinous ovarian tumor associated with a history of an ovarian cyst was increased (OR=1.7, 95% CI: 1.0–2.8), but did not vary notably according to receipt of subsequent ovarian surgery. While risk of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer was slightly increased among women with a cyst who had no subsequent ovarian surgery, it was reduced when a cyst diagnosis was followed by surgery (OR = 0.6, 95% CI: 0.4–0.9). This reduction in risk was most evident for serous invasive tumors. Women with a history of endometriosis had a threefold increased risk of endometrioid and clear cell invasive tumors, with a lesser risk increase among women who underwent subsequent ovarian surgery.

Conclusions

Our results suggest differences in the relation of ovarian cysts and endometriosis with risk of specific subtypes of ovarian cancer as well as the possibility that ovarian surgery in women with these conditions may lower the risk of invasive disease. Similar content being viewed by others

References

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Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Rossing, M.A., Cushing-Haugen, K.L., Wicklund, K.G. et al. Risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in relation to benign ovarian conditions and ovarian surgery. Cancer Causes Control 19, 1357–1364 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-008-9207-9 Received: Accepted: Published: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-008-9207-9

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mesh:D004715

MeSH descriptors

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous Ovarian Neoplasms Ovary Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell Adult Aged Case-Control Studies Confidence Intervals Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans Interviews as Topic

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