Mediastinal Metastasis Isolated in Ovarian Cancer: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Isolated mediastinal metastases from ovarian carcinoma are considered exceptional. Since such metastases are considered advanced stage disease, systemic therapy is the indicated therapeutic approach; however, some articles report that surgical excision is also feasible. Methods: We reviewed the English-language literature to detect cases of isolated mediastinal ovarian cancer metastases and present the management applied as well as their outcomes. Results: From 1998 to 2022, 15 such cases have been reported, with 4 of those cases being primary ovarian cancer presentation and 11 being ovarian cancer recurrence. The histology of the tumor was serious in all of the cases. Regarding the management of cancer, various methods were applied. In total, 11 of the patients underwent a surgical resection of the mediastinal metastasis, 2 received systemic therapy, 1 received a combination of palliative chemotherapy and radiation and the last patient was treated with laser debulking and radiotherapy. The mean reported follow-up was 11 months. Conclusions: Solitary mediastinal metastasis from ovarian cancer is very rare; physicians should pay close attention when routinely evaluating thoracic scans from patients with ovarian malignancy as well as individualizing the management in such patients, since surgical resection can also be performed. However, definitive conclusions cannot be drawn from the small number of case reports available.

Keywords

• ovarian cancer
• isolated mediastinal metastases
• ovarian metastases
• surgical debulking
• cytoreduction