At present, there is no effective screening of
ovarian cancer. Primary prevention may be the only strategy to decrease the mortality from
ovarian cancer, not only in women at high risk but also at low risk. Several recent studies have identified the distal fimbriae end of the fallopian tubes as primary precursor of High-grade serous
carcinoma. Serous tubal intraepithelial
carcinomas and occult invasive serous
carcinomas have been identified in 2-17% of the fallopian tubes of BRCA1/2 positive women undergoing risk-reducing
salpingo-oophorectomy. Removal of the fallopian tubes with ovarian preservation has been suggested as a reasonable strategy that could reduce the risk of developing ovarian
carcinoma in both low and high-risk women. It has been proposed after childbearing in women at high risk to be followed by bilateral
oophorectomy at a later date. Bilateral
salpingectomy is also suggested for low risk women, at the time of other benign gynaecologic surgery as a primary preventive strategy. Some studies have shown a risk reduction of
ovarian cancer in women with bilateral prophylactic
salpingectomy. Current research regarding bilateral salpingoophorectomy as primary prevention approach of
ovarian cancer is reviewed here. In addition, the potential use of bilateral
salpingectomy as prevention approach of
ovarian cancer is discussed.