Oophoropexy and the management of Hodgkin's disease. A reevaluation of the risks and benefits
D. A. Gabriel, S. A. Bernard, J. Lambert and R. D. Croom 3rd
Female patients with Hodgkin's disease who undergo staging laparotomy
frequently have oophoropexy performed to preserve both fertility and
hormone production. Because of recent changes in therapy favoring systemic
chemotherapy rather than total nodal irradiation for patients with stage
III Hodgkin's disease, the need for oophoropexy may be less than previously
described. Thirty-nine women of childbearing age underwent laparotomy at
the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, from 1970 to 1984.
Twenty-seven patients underwent oophoropexy. Only three of these patients
would have needed this procedure based on their subsequent therapy. Two
patients required additional gynecologic surgery because of complications
related to the oophoropexy. The success rate in preservation of menstrual
function and fertility is also discussed. We review the previous experience
with oophoropexy and suggest an alternative approach to the routine use of
this procedure.
