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Fertility Preservation for Young Women with Rectal Cancer—A Combined Approach from One Referral Center

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Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery Aims and scope

Abstract

Background

Up to 6% of women with colorectal cancer are diagnosed in the reproductive age and are at risk for premature ovarian failure and infertility due to pelvic irradiation and chemotherapy.

Study Design

Between 1997 and 2007, six women with rectal carcinoma were referred to the McGill Reproductive Center (Montreal, Canada) for fertility preservation. Following resection of their primary tumor, they were scheduled to undergo pelvic irradiation.

Results

Five patients underwent laparoscopic ovarian lateral transposition before radiotherapy in order to relocate their ovaries outside the radiation field. A concomitant ovarian wedge resection was performed for ovarian cryopreservation. In two of these women, before dissecting the ovarian cortical tissue for cryopreservation, all visible follicles were aspirated. The sixth patient who had had low anterior resection underwent hormonal ovarian stimulation followed by oocyte retrieval and embryo vitrification.

Conclusions

Fertility preservation in women with rectal cancer is feasible. This includes laparoscopic ovarian transposition and cryopreservation of ovarian tissue, embryo, or oocyte.

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Acknowledgment

We wish to thank Dr. Gary Mok for his assistance in collecting the data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1A1, Canada

    Shai E. Elizur, Togas Tulandi, Jack Y. J. Huang, Dan Levin & Seang Lin Tan

  2. Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Sarkis Meterissian

Authors
  1. Shai E. Elizur
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  2. Togas Tulandi
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  3. Sarkis Meterissian
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  4. Jack Y. J. Huang
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  5. Dan Levin
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  6. Seang Lin Tan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shai E. Elizur.

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Elizur, S.E., Tulandi, T., Meterissian, S. et al. Fertility Preservation for Young Women with Rectal Cancer—A Combined Approach from One Referral Center. J Gastrointest Surg 13, 1111–1115 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-009-0829-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-009-0829-3

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