[Radiotherapy and ovarian carcinoma. Experience in 139 patients]

Between 1969 and the end of 1984, 104 patients with stage I to III ovarian carcinoma were referred for treatment. All patients had surgery before referral. There were 42 stage I, 32 stage II and 30 stage III patients. In one third of the patients the previous surgery was incomplete. Another 35 patients with advanced (stage IV) ovarian carcinoma or with an abdomino-pelvic recurrence after surgery were referred for palliative treatment. Distribution of the patients according to age, stage and histologic type was not different from the series reported in the literature. Radiation therapy was given over the pelvis up to 45 Gy midline dose. A lumbo-aortic field, 25 Gy up to the diaphragm, was added for stage III patients. Five year survival after complete surgery was respectively 80.5%, 65.5% and 33.3% for stage I, II and III. After incomplete surgery the data dropped to 70%, 33% and 6.6%. Overall five year survival is nevertheless 57.6%. These results are compared to similar published series (surgery and radiotherapy). The outcome is very similar. Adjuvant radiation therapy in adequate dose over the pelvis is worthwhile for ovarian carcinoma stage I-II, and with lumbo-aortic irradiation for stage III, providing surgery was aggressive.