Evaluation of pelvic posterior exenteration in the management of advanced-stage ovarian cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The main aim of this study was to show the interest of pelvic posterior exenteration to obtain complete resection of the tumor in case of invasion of the rectum by contiguity in advanced-stage ovarian cancer. The secondary aim was to determine the morbidity of this surgery.


METHODS
It is a multicentric, retrospective study of a series of 41 patients, who underwent posterior pelvectomy for advanced-stage ovarian cancer, over a period of 18 years, from July 1989 to July 2007.


RESULTS
The surgery resulted in macroscopically complete resection in 19 patients (46.34%), a residual tumor <2 cm in 19 patients (46.34%) and >2 cm in 3 patients (7.32%). In 34 patients (34/41), digestive continuity with satisfactory anal sphincter function was restored immediately or in the short term. The mean delay to the start of complementary treatment was 36 days. Median overall survival was 33 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The main aim of surgery for ovarian peritoneal carcinomatosis is to obtain a complete resection. In the case of direct invasion of the rectum by contiguity, when there is no cleavage plane between the uterus and the rectum, pelvic posterior exenteration is an effective method to achieve this objective. Morbidity is relatively high, but acceptable given the poor prognosis of this disease, the improved survival after surgery, and improvements in post-operative quality of life and functions.
Department of Oncological Surgery, Georges François Leclerc Anticancer Center, 1, rue du Professeur Marion, 21000 Dijon, France. herve_tixier@yahoo.fr
Hervé
H
Tixier
Jean
J
Fraisse
Bruno
B
Chauffert
Françoise
F
Mayer
Sylvain
S
Causeret
Catherine
C
Loustalot
Coralie
C
Deville
Franck
F
Bonnetain
Paul
P
Sagot
Serge
S
Douvier
Jean
J
Cuisenier
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis