Risk-reducing surgery on the uterine adnexa: timing and type of surgical treatment, and pathology report

Inherited mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 increase sigfincantly the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers, and they have been associated with increased risks of developing other types of cancer. Although screening programs have been implemented in order to detect cancers at the early stage, they resulted ineffective. To date, risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy represents the only procedure allowing reducing the incidence of ovarian cancer and increasing survival among BRCA1 and -2 mutation carriers. In the present review we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages related to the execution of prophylactic surgery, thus underlying possible beneficial and detrimental effects of this kind of surgery in premenopausal women. Additionally, we will investigate further therapeutic strategies aimed to reduce the risk of developing ovarian cancer, without affected patients' hormonal status.