Implementing the risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm adding obesity as a predictive factor

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate whether obesity represents a risk factor for the onset of ovarian cancer. Patients and Methods: One hundred and sixty-three patients with a body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m2 (group 1) and 130 women with a BMI of <25 kg/m2 (group 2) were included in the study. Results: A Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm (ROMA) index above the cut-off (>13%) was found in 24.5% of group 1 patients, whereas a high ROMA score was identified in 5.3% of group 2 women. During the study, 13 out of 40 group 1 patients with ROMA >13% were deemed eligible for bariatric surgery. After bariatric surgery and decrease of BMI, eight out of these 13 obese women had a ROMA index <13%. Conclusion: The ROMA index may function as a simple test able to screen obese women at risk of developing ovarian cancer.