Krukenberg syndrome as a natural manifestation of tumor cell entrapment.

Abstract

In summary, confusion exists among clinicians regarding the possibilities of treatment for ovarian metastases in general, and of the Krukenberg tumors in particular. The ovaries themselves are easily removable irrespective of their sizes, but disappointing long-term results of oophorectomy alone leave most surgeons with only the choice of conservative therapy unless there is a debilitating tumor mass. In most patients nothing is done until surgical palliation becomes mandatory. There is a group of patients with isolated peritoneal dissemination of gastrointestinal cancers who are eligible for new treatment strategies. This group includes patients who have small-volume peritoneal spread or who can be completely cytoreduced, and those who have no evidence of liver or extraabdominal metastases. An aggressive approach with cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy with or without additional systemic chemotherapy should be considered for the treatment of selected patients.