Surgery in ovarian cancer: the concept of cytoreductive surgery.
Critical analysis of the collected evidence on cytoreductive surgery suggests a median survival benefit of 9-12 months in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy. Recently, a randomized study on the value of secondary cytoreduction showed a median survival benefit of 6 months for those with small residual disease after the second operation. Primary cytoreduction is feasible in approximately 70% of patients, with an acceptable level of morbidity. The reported evidence justifies a serious attempt at cytoreductive surgery at the first operation by an experienced gynaecological oncologist.
Peter
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Gynaecological Oncology Centre, Academic Hopsital, Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Heintz
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M
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate