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Cáncer ovárico - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Cáncer de los ovarios

Definición:

Es un tipo de cáncer que comienza en los ovarios, los órganos reproductores femeninos que producen los óvulos.

Causas:

El cáncer ovárico, cuya causa se desconoce, es el quinto cáncer más común entre las mujeres y provoca más muertes que cualquier otro cáncer del aparato reproductor.

El riesgo de sufrir cáncer ovárico parece estar afectado por varios factores. Cuantos más hijos tenga una mujer y cuanto más temprano en su vida dé a luz, menor será el riesgo de presentar este tipo de cáncer. Igualmente, ciertos defectos genéticos (BRCA1 y BRCA2) son responsables de un pequeño número de casos de cáncer ovárico. Las mujeres con antecedentes personales de cáncer de mama o antecedentes familiares de cáncer de mama o cáncer de ovarios tienen un mayor riesgo de sufrir este tipo de cáncer.

Las mujeres que toman estrogenoterapia solamente (no con progesterona) durante 5 años o más parecen tener un riesgo más alto de cáncer ovárico. Sin embargo, las pastillas anticonceptivas disminuyen el riesgo de este cáncer.

Los estudios sugieren que los fármacos para la fertilidad no incrementan el riesgo de cáncer ovárico.

Las mujeres mayores están en mayor riesgo de padecer cáncer ovárico. La mayoría de las muertes por este tipo de cáncer se presentan en mujeres de 55 años en adelante.

  • Reviewed last on: 12/28/2010
  • Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Mørch LS, Løkkegaard E, Andreasen AH, Krüger-Kjaer S, Lidegaard O. Hormone therapy and ovarian cancer. JAMA. 2009;302:298-305.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network. National Comprehensive Cancer Network Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Ovarian Cancer. 2009;v.2.

Jensen A, Sharif H, Frederiksen K, Kjaer SK. Use of fertility drugs and risk of ovarian cancer: Danish population based cohort study. BMJ. 2009;338:b249.

Berek JS, Chalas E, Edelson M, Moore DH, Burke WM, Cliby WA, et al. Prophylactic and risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: recommendations based on risk of ovarian cancer. Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Sep;116(3):733-43.

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