The port: delivering intraperitoneal chemotherapy in ovarian cancer

1. Ovarian cancer is rarely diagnosed in the early stages because there are no easily identifiable signs and symptoms. When recognizable signs and symptoms appear, they are commonly unimpressive, elusive, and vague. 2. A significant advantage of intraperitoneal administration of chemotherapy is that high concentrations of drugs can be maintained within the peritoneal cavity with less systemic toxicity than with intravenous administration of similar doses. 3. Surgically implanted ports allow for a completely closed system, eliminating the need for daily care and greatly reducing the potential for infection.