[The value of cytoreductive second-look surgery in advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma]

40 patients with advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma were investigated to evaluate the influence of further cytoreduction during second-look surgery on survival after termination of first-line polychemotherapy containing cisplatinum. Radical tumorectomy with no macroscopic residual tumor mass was achieved in 27.5% of cases; in 52.5% the residual tumour mass was less than 2 cm and in 20% it was more than 2 cm in diameter after cytoreductive second-look surgery. Median survival time after second-look within these three groups of patients was 15.2 months, 16.9 months and 15.3 months, respectively (Mantel test, p = 0.74). In contrast to the situation at the diagnostic operation, further cytoreduction during second-look surgery has no positive influence on survival. We therefore abandoned this operation in clinically tumour-positive patients.