A recent mathematical modeling study indicates that the rate of ovarian cancer might be decreased and healthcare expenses increased if women who have finished their families were given the option to remove their fallopian tubes during other appropriate abdominal operations.
A mathematical modeling study from Germany reveals that if women who have completed their families were allowed to have their fallopian tubes removed during other suitable abdominal surgeries, it could lead to a reduction in ovarian cancer rates as well as increased healthcare savings. The research conducted by Angela Kather, Ingo Runnebaum, and their team from Jena University Hospital, Germany, was published on January 30 in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine.
Many severe forms of ovarian cancer often originate in the fallopian tubes; thus, their removal may help lower the risk of developing this type of cancer. Although routine surgery solely for fallopian tube removal is not recommended for women with an average risk of ovarian cancer, many surgeons do perform “opportunistic” removals during other gynecological procedures such as hysterectomies or tubal sterilization. Additionally, this procedure might be applicable during various abdominal surgeries, like gallbladder removal.
Nevertheless, the overall advantages of opportunistic fallopian tube removal have been somewhat ambiguous. To elucidate this, Kather and her colleagues designed a mathematical model that uses real-world patient data to forecast the risks of ovarian cancer at the population level following opportunistic fallopian tube removal, along with potential savings in healthcare costs.
Utilizing the model on data from Germany, the researchers estimated that conducting opportunistic fallopian tube removals during all hysterectomies and tubal sterilizations could lead to a 5% reduction in ovarian cancer cases among the female population. Moreover, if performed during all appropriate abdominal surgeries for women who no longer wish to have children, the cases of cancer nationwide could decline by 15%, with potential annual healthcare savings exceeding €10 million.
Ovarian cancer ranks as the third most prevalent gynecological cancer globally and has a high mortality rate of 66%. The results from this study indicate that carrying out opportunistic fallopian tube removals during relevant abdominal surgeries could not only diminish the risk of ovarian cancer in the population and prevent related fatalities but also yield economic advantages. These insights could influence healthcare policy and insurance considerations regarding the procedure.
The authors state, “We created a mathematical model to evaluate the chances of women undergoing surgeries that present an opportunity for fallopian tube removal and the impact on their ovarian cancer risks. By applying this model to the entire female population of Germany, we found that 15% of ovarian cancer cases could be avoided if fallopian tubes were removed during all suitable abdominal surgeries for women who have finished having children. This strategy could significantly extend healthy lifespans and contribute to substantial healthcare cost savings.”
