Is laparotomy for staging early ovarian cancer an absolute necessity?
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate that palpation of the omentum, mesentery, and intestine can be omitted from the laparoscopic staging of stage I carcinoma of the ovary.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of 223 women with stages III and IV ovarian cancer treated by laparotomy.


METHODS
Gynecological Oncology Clinic, M. Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland.


METHODS
Observation of macroscopic spread of tumor to areas accessible to laparoscopic inspection versus spread to areas inaccessible to laparoscopic evaluation.


RESULTS
Macroscopically detectable disease in the areas easily accessible to laparoscopic inspection was present in all cases of metastases to the mesentery, omentum, or intestine.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis of FIGO stage I ovarian cancer can be made with confidence if laparoscopic inspection of certain areas reveals no evidence of metastases.
Possover
M
M
Frauenklinik, Klinik am Eichert, Postgraduate Clinic of University Ulm, 73006 Göppingen, Germany.
Mader
M
M
Zielinski
J
J
Pietrzak
K
K
Hettenbach
A
A
D000290:Adnexa Uteri / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007813:Laparotomy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D008643:Mesentery / Q000473:pathology; D019042:Muscle Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009852:Omentum / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010173:Palpation; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary