Appendectomy and carcinoma ovarii. Cytoreduction, palliation, or simple tradition?

The present article is based on a review of 187 patients with an ovarian cancer who had a "second-look" or debulking operation performed. Seventy-nine patients underwent appendectomy prior to or in connection with the primary cytoreductive surgery and were observed for a average of 16.6 months before secondary oncologic surgery was performed. The remaining 108 patients had their appendix in situ during the same period and were observed for an average of 14.7 months and 1 patient developed acute appendicitis. A total of 125 appendectomies were performed in patients with cancer of the ovary and 14 (11%) showed metastatic growth. The two groups were similar as regards age, period of observation, tumor type and stage. The risk of developing acute appendicitis did not exceed the incidence in healthy women and no surgical problems were experienced in observing either of the two groups during the total period of 2,900 months. The need for surgical surveillance, however, was significantly greater for those who kept their appendix during the medical oncologic treatment. It is concluded that the cytoreductive effect of an appendectomy is limited, but that the appendix should be extirpated if possible as part of the primary staging effort. Leaving an appendix in situ at primary cytoreductive surgery does not expose the patient to any significantly increased risk, but an appendectomy prevents the patient from experiencing the additional burden of an acute appendicitis during medical oncologic treatment.