Bone metastasis in ovarian cancer

Abstract

Bone involvement in carcinoma of ovary occurs rarely. In a review of 103 patients over last 3 years we have seen 4 such patients (serous-2, mucinous-1, mixed germ cell tumour-1). Patients presented with severe localized bone pain, bony swelling and difficulty in walking. The common sites of involvement were vertebrae, pelvic bones and skull. Radiologically the osteolytic lesions were commonest. Bone lesions were associated with abdomino-pelvic disease in 3 patients. Cisplatinum based chemotherapy in addition to local radiation resulted in significant response in 2 patients; one complete and one partial response. The median survival was 7.5 months (range 6-39 months) after bone metastasis. We conclude bone involvement in cancer ovary is associated with poor prognosis.