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Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue in breast cancer patients: 10 years of experience

    Raffaella Fabbri

    * Author for correspondence

    Gynecology & Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, via Massarenti, 13, 40138, Bologna, Italy.

    ,
    Rossella Vicenti

    Gynecology & Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, via Massarenti, 13, 40138, Bologna, Italy

    ,
    Valentina Magnani

    Gynecology & Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, via Massarenti, 13, 40138, Bologna, Italy

    ,
    Gianandrea Pasquinelli

    Surgical Pathology, Department of Haematology, Oncology & Clinical Pathology, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, via Massarenti, 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy

    ,
    Maria Macciocca

    Gynecology & Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, via Massarenti, 13, 40138, Bologna, Italy

    ,
    Isabella Parazza

    Gynecology & Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, via Massarenti, 13, 40138, Bologna, Italy

    ,
    Roberto Paradisi

    Gynecology & Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, via Massarenti, 13, 40138, Bologna, Italy

    ,
    Cesare Battaglia

    Gynecology & Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, via Massarenti, 13, 40138, Bologna, Italy

    &
    Stefano Venturoli

    Gynecology & Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, via Massarenti, 13, 40138, Bologna, Italy

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/fon.12.152

    Aim: To present a decade of experience with ovarian tissue cryopreservation in breast cancer patients. Materials & methods: The safety of the procedure was histologically evaluated before and after freezing in 94 patients. Out of 94 patients, 48 prechemotherapy patients were randomly selected to determine stroma and follicle preservation and follicular density. Results: The ovarian tissue from 94 patients did not identify any micrometastases. After cryopreservation, morphology of the ovarian tissue and density of healthy follicles were similar in fresh and frozen tissue. Follicular density decreased with the increasing age of patients in both fresh and frozen tissue (p < 0.0001). A variation in follicular density was observed between fresh and frozen tissue (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that ovarian tissue cryopreservation is highly feasible for preserving the fertility of young breast cancer patients.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: ▪ of interest ▪▪ of considerable interest

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