Benefit of operative laparoscopy for ovarian tumors suspected of benignity

Ovarian tumors need to be treated systematically due to the risk of complications and degeneracy. The aim of this study was to show the usefulness of laparoscopic surgical treatment of ovarian tumors suspected of benignity. From September 4, 1985 through December 1, 1989, 108 patients were operated on in our unit for ovarian tumors suspected of benignity (absence of clinical and ultrasound scanning signs of malignancy). There were 111 operations due to three recurrences. Operative laparoscopy was carried out 100 times. The laparoscopic operations were 71 transparietal cystectomies, 20 intraperitoneal cystectomies, 8 transparietal oophorectomies, and 1 intraperitoneal oophorectomy. Of these, 43 operations were performed in emergency situations and 57 were not. Eight patients were pregnant at the time of laparoscopic treatment, there were no miscarriages. Average operation time and hospital stay duration were 51.80 min and 3.27 days, respectively. Three borderline tumors were diagnosed (one through laparoscopy and two through histology) and were treated by secondary laparotomy. Operative laparoscopy was the only treatment for ovarian tumors 98 times out of 111 (88.28%). A histological diagnosis was obtained in every case. Laparoscopic treatment of the tumor was efficient and safe. For ovarian tumors suspected of benignity this technique is of double interest: diagnostic and therapeutic. Operative laparoscopy allows determination of a histological certainty without the disadvantages of laparotomy.