[Ovarian cancer. I. Epidemiology, symptoms, FIGO staging]

The purpose of our study was to analyse the epidemiological data, signs and symptoms, FIGO staging in patients operated for the first time for ovarian cancer.

A retrospective review of patients' charts with ovarian cancer operated at the Department of Gynaecological Surgery of Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital-Research Institute in 1990-1999 was conducted. We analysed the data of women operated for the first time for this disease. FIGO staging was performed due to operational and histologic findings.

Between January 1990 and December 1999, 107 patients were operated for the first time for ovarian cancer. The mean patients' age was 54 years (range: 25-82); 31.8% of patients were aged from 41 to 50 years, 24.8% 51-60, 27.1% 61-70%, 7.5% above 70 years, and 9.3% were below 40 years. The main symptoms were: abdominal pain (61.7%), increasing abdominal circumference (35.5%), urination and bowel problems (14.0%), weight loss (8.4%), dyspeptic problems (7.5%), slightly elevated temperature (4.7%) and abnormal vaginal bleeding (3.7%). No symptoms were reported by 16.8% of patients (frequency similar in I/II and III/IV stage by FIGO). There were no statistical differences in the incidence of reported symptoms in I/II vs III/IV FIGO stage. FIGO staging was as follows: I--13.1%, II--14.95%, III--59.8%, IV--12.15%.

Our data showed that ovarian cancer is very rare below the age of 40 and above 70 years. There is a great need to improve screening for ovarian cancer because the development of the disease is clinically silent or nonspecific and almost 70% of patients with ovarian cancer is diagnosed in the late stages of illness.