[Restaging laparotomy of presumed early ovarian cancer]

To assess the value and complications of restaging laparotomy in women with presumed early ovarian cancer who have undergone inadequate initial staging procedures.

Between 1986 and 1996, 42 patients underwent restaging laparotomy in Cancer Hospital, Peking Union Medical College after receiving inadequate initial surgical procedure for presumed early ovarian cancer. Presumed stages from initial surgery include stage I a in 28 cases; I b in 1 case; I c in 12 cases; II a in 1 case. Histological distributions were as follows: epithelial cancer in 26 cases; malignant germ cell tumor in 9 cases; granulose cell tumor in 7 cases.

Twelve patients (28.6%) had disease upstaged and eight (19.0%) had stage III disease confirmed by restaging laparotomy. Positive findings at restaging laparotomy were mainly in omentum (16.7%) and pericolic gutters (33.3%). Peritoneal cytology was positive in 25.0 percent of patients. Three and five year survival rates for 30 patients with negative findings were 96.7% and 86.7%, respectively. Complications of restaging laparotomy included hemorrhage blood loss (50-1,100 ml, average 280 ml) and lymphocyst (7.1%).

Patients with presumed early ovarian cancer who had undergone inadequate staging procedures should undergo restaging laparotomy. Patients with negative findings have an excellent prognosis. Complications of restaging laparotomy were minor.