Stage I ovarian carcinoma: specialty-related differences in survival and management.
BACKGROUND
In patients with FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) stage I ovarian carcinoma given care with or without subspecialists, we compared completeness of initial staging and disease-free survival.


METHODS
Two groups of patients with stage I ovarian carcinoma were compared. Patients were managed by either gynecologic oncologists or community-based physicians. The two groups were compared for similarities in demographic, tumor, and substage characteristics and survival differences.


RESULTS
Fifty-four patients with stage I ovarian cancer were included. The two groups were comparable in age, gravidity, parity, grade, and substage. Substaging was determined to be adequate in 100% of the gynecologic oncologist group and 28% of the community-based group. Postoperative chemotherapy was given to 79% and 36% of the two groups, respectively. Six-year survival was 90% in the gynecologic oncologist group and 68% in the community-based group.


CONCLUSIONS
Of these two groups of patients with stage I ovarian cancer, the group managed without gynecologic oncology involvement had significantly less adequate staging, decreased administration of chemotherapy, and lower survival rates.
Puls
L E
LE
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, USA.
Carrasco
R
R
Morrow
M S
MS
Blackhurst
D
D
D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky / Q000453:epidemiology; D008495:Medical Oncology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010298:Parity; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents