title: Cytoreductive surgery in ovarian cancer.
abstract: As the overall prognosis for patients with ovarian cancer is poor, the management of this condition should be restricted to expert multi-disciplinary teams in gynaecological oncology. Apparent early stage ovarian cancer requires accurate and complete staging so that potential sites for metastases are not missed. Omitting adequate staging may have significant consequences including a negative impact on survival rates in young patients. The challenge with advanced ovarian cancer is to obtain a detailed appreciation of the extent of disease. This information allows treatment with primary chemotherapy if the cancer is considered to be inoperable and/or the general condition of the patient renders her unfit for appropriate surgery. Available data would suggest that a 5-year survival rate of 50% is only possible for those patients who have had complete cytoreduction of all tumour. Therefore, the best surgical option for patients with advanced ovarian cancer is a 'complete' primary surgical procedure that achieves complete clearance of the abdominal cavity rather than 'optimal' surgery that leaves tumour nodules up to 1 cm in diameter in situ in the patient.
authors: Department of Gynaecological Oncology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK. christophe.pomel@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk
authors: Christophe
authors: C
authors: Pomel
authors: Arjun
authors: A
authors: Jeyarajah
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Oram
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Shepherd
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Milliken
authors: Jacques
authors: J
authors: Dauplat
authors: Karina
authors: K
authors: Reynolds
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate